I’m not all that experienced with Asian art, historical or otherwise, but every now and then, there’s a piece you just can’t ignore. While browsing through the exhibitions this past weekend at Sotheby’s New York Headquarters, this particular fan was a featured item and I must tell you, it is awe-inspiring. It is difficult to tell from the picture because the detail on this item is so intricate and elaborate that you really must see it in person. The workmanship is simply astounding – the white piece of this item is made of pierced ivory that has been meticulously carved into a woven pattern that looks like tiny threads of string. It would be a difficult task with thread, let alone ivory, and then more layers of ivory and jade have been sculpted, painted, and attached to the piece for embellishment. I can’t be certain, but I would be shocked if there is any person alive today that could produce this kind of work.
This is the real reason to go to exhibitions, to be surprised at the beauty out there you never knew existed. I look through almost every auction catalog at the major houses and some of the more prominent auctions at the smaller houses, but I breezed right past this item while leafing through the first time. It took an in-person experienced to be astonished.
Available until March 23rd (hurry!) as Lot 149 in the Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art Auction at Sotheby’s New York Headquarters
