R35,000 - R55,000
R45,000
A CHINESE GOLD FILIGREE AND HORNBILL BROOCH, LEE CHING MARKS, QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY
The oval cameo carved with scholars within a courtyard behind a balustrade fence, before pavilions and a gnarled pine tree, the whole enclosed by fine flowerheads in gold surmounted by a central flower flanked by pair of fine filigree birds, the coiling surround adorned with open lotus blooms, the bottom suspending two bell-shaped flowers with reticulated stamens, marked with the initials LC within a rectangular cartouche to the back
cf. Bonhams, Fine Chinese Art, 9 November 2017, Lot 200, London, New Bond Street
Lot Essay
Lee Ching was a gold- and silversmith who operated in Canton from the 1840's to 1880's. The company had further outlets in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Guangzhou and were renowned for creating some of the finest export gold jewellery and silverware. The firm also supplied Hancocks, the silver retailer based in London who worked for Queen Victoria.
Hornbill, also known as "golden jade" is a precious ornamental material derived from the casque of the helmeted hornbill (Buceros vigil), a large bird of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo.
Similar gold and hornbill jewellery is in the Asian Civilizations Museum, Singapore, ac no.2011-00685.
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:| 1 to 10000: | 23% inc VAT* |
| 10001+: | 19.55% inc VAT* |
| 1 to 10000: | 23% inc VAT* |
| 10001+: | 19.55% inc VAT* |
