Olive pit.. China, Guangdong, Qing Dynasty, around mid 19th cent.
This artist was famous for his extreme miniature works and lived from 1802 to 1876 in the Southern province Guangdong in Zengcheng. The incredible thing about this work – next to the intricacy of the miniature carving in a natural hard olive stone – is the ability to carve calligraphy script in such abnormal minuteness! See the poem on the bottom! The ship has a curved body and round roof with many windows, some are open, some have sashes which can be opened. Passengers are scattered, their heads peeking out from all possible places. Ornamental design on all places in between. The long inscription in six vertical lines originates from the classical poem Qian Qibi Fu å‰ èµ¤å£ è³¦ by Su Shi 蘇 軾 (11th cent.), also called Dongpo, a highly respected poet and official. The "Red Rock" (Qibi) became famous through the Battle of 208, lost by Cao Cao, who struggled to attain power, and thus opened the way to the division of China in three parts, in Sanguo (Three Kingdoms). This idiosyncratic singular miniature carving is signed after the poetry lines on the bottom ZHAN GU-SHENG zuo æ¹› 谷生 作 (made by ...). Included is a very rare origial miniature wooden base with wave design and blossoms. 湛谷生作橄欖核雕å°èˆ¹. 中國廣æ±, 清代, ç´„19世紀中期. é•· 4.25, 高 3.6 厘米.
LENGTH 4,25 CM, HEIGHT (WITH BASE) 3,6 CM
From an Australian private collection