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A CHINESE GILT BRONZE ENGRAVED AND SEMI-PRECIOUS STONE INLAID BONSAI, MID-QING DYNASTY, 18TH/19TH CENTURY
The baibao qian (inlaid treasure) bonsai from the Qing imperial palace represent a pinnacle of imperial decorative art. Inspired by natural potted landscapes, they were reimagined by palace workshops as luxurious, permanent display pieces. Made with gilt-bronze planters and inlaid with a rich variety of materials such as jade, turquoise, coral, agate, ivory, and kingfisher feather. Their compositions depict miniature landscapes of rocks, blossoms, and birds in vivid detail and auspicious symbolism.
Unlike living bonsai, which emphasize natural vitality, these inlaid treasure bonsai embody ideals of permanence, abundance, and auspicious fortune. They were displayed in palace halls, temples, and the private apartments of the emperor and empress, serving as symbols of prosperity, longevity, and harmony.
The Palace Museum in Beijing preserves a significant group of these works, notable for their scale, technical refinement, and opulent materials, offering important insight into Qing court aesthetics and craftsmanship. For comparable examples, see two in the Palace Museum collection, nos. gu00125948 and gu00126610.
清中期 銅鎏金「嵌百寶」盆景擺件
此件嵌百寶盆景為清宮「百寶嵌」工藝之代表，乃宮廷陳設藝術之巔峰。其靈感源自自然盆景，經宮廷造辦處匠人重新演繹，製作成可永久保存之華麗陳設品。器身以鎏金銅盆為基，嵌以玉石、松石、珊瑚、瑪瑙、象牙及翠鳥羽毛等珍貴材料，構成山石、花木、禽鳥等微型景觀，形象生動，寓意吉祥。
與強調生機的真盆景不同，嵌寶盆景體現的是永恆、富足與祥瑞之理想，常陳設於殿堂、佛堂及帝后寢宮，象徵繁榮、長壽與和諧。
北京故宮博物院藏有一批此類作品，規模宏大，工藝精湛，材質華美，充分展現清代宮廷美學與工藝水準。可參考故宮藏品編號 gu00125948 與 gu00126610。
源流：
維州私人學者舊藏。
26cm high; with a fitted box.
Sold for $4,000
Lot 73
The baibao qian (inlaid treasure) bonsai from the Qing imperial palace represent a pinnacle of imperial decorative art. Inspired by natural potted landscapes, they were reimagined by palace workshops as luxurious, permanent display pieces. Made with gilt-bronze planters and inlaid with a rich variety of materials such as jade, turquoise, coral, agate, ivory, and kingfisher feather. Their compositions depict miniature landscapes of rocks, blossoms, and birds in vivid detail and auspicious symbolism.
Unlike living bonsai, which emphasize natural vitality, these inlaid treasure bonsai embody ideals of permanence, abundance, and auspicious fortune. They were displayed in palace halls, temples, and the private apartments of the emperor and empress, serving as symbols of prosperity, longevity, and harmony.
The Palace Museum in Beijing preserves a significant group of these works, notable for their scale, technical refinement, and opulent materials, offering important insight into Qing court aesthetics and craftsmanship. For comparable examples, see two in the Palace Museum collection, nos. gu00125948 and gu00126610.
清中期 銅鎏金「嵌百寶」盆景擺件
此件嵌百寶盆景為清宮「百寶嵌」工藝之代表，乃宮廷陳設藝術之巔峰。其靈感源自自然盆景，經宮廷造辦處匠人重新演繹，製作成可永久保存之華麗陳設品。器身以鎏金銅盆為基，嵌以玉石、松石、珊瑚、瑪瑙、象牙及翠鳥羽毛等珍貴材料，構成山石、花木、禽鳥等微型景觀，形象生動，寓意吉祥。
與強調生機的真盆景不同，嵌寶盆景體現的是永恆、富足與祥瑞之理想，常陳設於殿堂、佛堂及帝后寢宮，象徵繁榮、長壽與和諧。
北京故宮博物院藏有一批此類作品，規模宏大，工藝精湛，材質華美，充分展現清代宮廷美學與工藝水準。可參考故宮藏品編號 gu00125948 與 gu00126610。
源流：
維州私人學者舊藏。
26cm high; with a fitted box.
Estimate $4,000 - $6,000
Overall in good condition, one metal wire branch is loose and possibly re-attached, minor losses to the precious stone inlay, all consistent with age and use.
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