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Dear Forum members:
I'm back with a couple of items (see below). These follow my theme of presenting items that I have had in my collection for some years only to discover later quite serendipitously that there was more to them than I realized when I acquired them and then had them out for years on display. The question this time is "What are these?" Since this is a simpler mystery than my prior two (the Amsterdam bont bowl and the androgynous figure of Lan Caihe), I'm offering only a ten-cent voucher this time as the prize for the first forum member who gets the right answer and who wants to make a Catawiki bid. He/she can then use the voucher to defray the high Catawiki auction fees. The figures measure about 7 inches in height by 3-1/2 inches in maximum width.
Best regards,
Errol
A stand for incense sticks?
Birgit
A pair of early 19th century porcelain laughing happy boys, each figure depicted seated, holding a ruyi in one hand and a fruit in the other.
In Chinese tradition, the ruyi sceptre is said to have a variety of desirable qualities: it bestows upon its owner unquestionable authority, sexual powers and the ability to make dreams and wishes come true. Among many other magical traits, the ruyi is believed to bring health and happiness to ones home.
It is shaped in the form of a lingzih mushroom…
circa 1820
?
take it with a grain of salt
Or is flagrant plagiarism frowned upon? ?
take it with a grain of salt
Hi all:
I somehow knew that Birgit would get this right instantaneously as she did with the Amsterdam Bont bowl. Well done Birgit! I have always been fond of these late 19th century Chinese figures. They are very cheerful. I often see them on eBay and Peter had one up recently in the "Buy it Now" section of bidamount.com and it might still be there. However, in looking at these items in auctions much later than the one I won, the seller in one case correctly described them as incense stick holders, as Birgit realized. I don't plan to use them for that purpose, but it's fun to know that. I don't know much about figures and their manufacture, but they often have holes in odd places. I had assumed that the holes on the tops of the heads were somehow connected with the manufacture process and that they did not have a specific purpose.
Since I read in another thread that Birgit has given up on Catawiki I don't intend to forward the ten-cent voucher to her!
Regards,
Errol
I was wondering what that hole in the head was for....
Here’s the link to the description I posted Errol, although you probably already have this info...
Best, Todd
take it with a grain of salt
Hello Todd:
Thanks for being so honest! You had me marvelling at your erudition although I remember that mine were described in the identical way by the seller. Your reference to the antique dealer's posting is interesting too. It shows that for some reason very few people realize that these happy boys or young men were intended to hold incense sticks and I have only seen one auction for them stating that! I was pleased too that I got my pair at an eBay auction for about one-third of the price that your seller is asking. I originally saw these figures on the website of a NYC porcelain dealer who asked $2,500 for the pair and sold them. When I later saw them on eBay I bid on them and won them. It shows what I have often said that eBay with all its problems has made some types of Chinese art more accessible and affordable.
Best regards,
Errol
Hi Errol,
I would like to pass that description off as my own. But unfortunately I have demonstrated time and again, in this forum, my LACK of knowledge on the subject. I have more than zero proficiency in Chinese porcelain, but it approaches zero at such close proximity, that there is no discernible difference. ?
But joking aside, I like these contests very much, thanks for taking the time to post them. And I learned something here...and if I ever, on the off chance, see this type of figure for sale, I will grab them up post haste.
take it with a grain of salt
Thank you Errol, I keep saving these vouchers ? In fact I had never seen these figures before, it was just a shot in the dark. They somehow reminded me of wooden nutcrackers where the smoke of the incense comes out at the mouth. Maybe the hole of the mouth has the same effect here, you might try with an incense stick.
Birgit
Hello Birgit:
You get these right not by guessing but because you have a very strong knowledge of Chinese art and can apply general principles even when you have not seen a particular item before. Here is the LINK to the one Peter currently has as a "Buy it Now" eBay item on bidamount.com. Another interesting point is that these figures often have moveable tongues. When I got these pieces and was unpacking them I heard something "rattling" inside one of the figures. I did a little research and found out that the "rattling" was due to an invisible tongue. I'm puzzled as to why a tongue was ever needed. However, the one in the link above also has a moveable tongue and the seller mentions that in the description. I like your thought about the incense smoke possibly coming out of the mouth. If I ever get round to trying that I'll let you know the result! Incidentally, the one in the link above is described as Qianlong. I think that's a dubious claim. I think these are more likely 19th century items. The one Todd showed above was described as c. 1820. I wonder though whether they are not later than that. Do you have any thoughts on their age and period?
Kind regards,
Errol
Too much honour, dear Errol. Sorry I have no idea about age. First I thought around 1900, but the pink color looks different from Guangxu pink. It’s quite glossy and thin instead of thick with bubbles. So maybe early 19th century is possible like the ones on onlinegalleries. Our experts will surely know about it.
Birgit
Errol
Your very prudent with your Catawiki vouchers. Exceptionally so. I look forward to your next Mystery.
Thanks S-D. I'm running out of items that have unusual and challenging characteristics, but I'll try to get one up again next week. I am prudent with my Catawiki vouchers. I'm not much of a fan of Catawiki!
Errol
Dear Erroll and all,
you are right that that laughing boy in the link is not Qianlong, the decoration is far from being Qianlong.
I have never heard about the movable tongue on these boys, I believe that it is a story. Movable tongue must be in place, if it is something rattling inside it must be some debris IMO.
The high price that some of these boys are reaching is, IMO opinion, due to a not correct evaluation.
There are two types of these figurines, the laughing boys (often in pair, often holding a lotus, and often standing) and the pair of boys called Hehe Erxian. Both these types are found of the Kangxi period and are expensive.
I think that who pay an high value for these 19th century boys is mistaken by those expensive ones.
Yours are stick holders as you correctly said because of the hole at the top, but not all have the hole there. A vent hole is necessary to avoid damages during firing, and many have it usually at the base or within a fold of the rope.
Giovanni
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Beautiful-Antique-Chinese-Hand-painted-Porcelain-Figure/352561181476
This boy is not laughing anymore but perhaps he might find a new Geppetto.
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