Chinese Shanghai Tou-se-wei Orphanage wood carving box
From the Jesuit Xujiahui Orphanage and Laterano Museum
| Start Price |
USD 3,500.00 |
| Current Price |
USD 3,500.00 |
| Time Left |
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| Bid Count |
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| Start Time |
Friday, August 29, 2008 |
| End Time |
Friday, September 05, 2008 |
| Location |
Montevideo |
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Description
SquareTrade © AP6.0 Made in the Jesuit Tou-se-wei (Tushanwan) orphanage, at Zi-ka-wei (Xujiahui), Shanghai c. 1900 Fantastic Chinese Tushanwan Boxwood carving box This is a extremely rare piece. You are bidding for a Chinese box carved in boxwood, made in the Jesuit orphanage of Tou-se-wei (Tushanwan) at Zi-Ka-Wei (Xujiahui) in Shanghai, surely at the end of the 19th. century. Exquisitely carved by their sides and frontis, the box has two interior removable compartments dedicated to keep small objects. The carving is fascinating. The scenes that show the panels, exhibit a profuse group of fantastic characters that seem to come from an impossible world, a dream world. Fantastic animals joined to human characters, impossible chimeras that combine human features with capriciously stylized beings in an overflowing metamorphosis, endow to this creation of an atmosphere that remembers a mythical Fairyland that seems to surpass the rich patrimony of the Chinese traditional culture. The meaning of these features is located at midway between a parody, an allegory and a satire of some passages of some Chinese traditional tales, and the daily life. The content itself of these scenes could be interpreted in many different ways, and a part of its most mysterious and ambiguous points perhaps still need a correct evaluation from the scholars. Materials: Boxwood Techniques: Handwork wood carving Date: circa 1900 Measurements: 9,75 x 5,75 x 4,75 inches. Markings: Sealed (in French and Chinese) "Tou-se wei Orphelinat, Zi-Ka-Wei Shanghai". Also sealed "Pont. Museo Missionario Etnologico, Laterano." Condition: Overall Very Good. A foot lost. Minimal losses in the carving. Nice patina, minimal losses. Needs professional clean. No key. About this gorgeous work of art and Tushanwan Orphanage The box is one of the few surviving pieces of carving wood from the famed Tou-se-wei (Tushanwan) workshop, run by the Jesuit priests of St. Ignatius to teach orphaned boys of Shanghai a skill. In 1864, the Jesuits established the orphanage, where children learned Arts and Crafts. There, at Tushanwan Arts and Craft Centre on the outskirts of Shanghai, a generation learned to make a creative living - sculpture, metalwork, stained glassmaking, embroidery and more. The Tou-se-wei Orphanage, conforms a Historic Heritage, a cradle of Chinese artists. Many famous sculptors and painters, including art deco icon Zhang Chongren, Zhou Xiang, Xu Yongqing, Liu Haisu and Xu Beihong, had studied there. But at the same time, the fathers respected the rights of the child not to become "western artists". Then, a select group of Chinese masters taught there the best of the Chinese traditional art. Wood carving was one of the most important workshops there. Our box is an exquisite sample of this. After the vicissitudes, at the end of a fascinating journey The box was "saved", despite the terrible events that China suffered since the ends of the 19th. Century. It is necessary to keep in mind that the missionary facilities were attacked, burned and desolated in many opportunities, since the called "Boxer Rebellion"(and even before) until the definitive closing of the entity when the arrival of the communists to the power. This box was carefully collected and preserved by the fathers as an important ethnologic piece, and then, sent to Rome. On the thirty's, was catalogued at the Missionary-Ethnologic Museum (Pontificio Museo Missionario Etnologico) in Laterano. At the end of the decade of 1930, the box was given, as an important present, to a high Uruguayan dignitary in the Vatican. Please, read carefully before bidding Questions: All items offered by us are authentic, old and in good condition unless stated otherwise. Descriptions are the best of our knowledge. Feel free to email us with any questions you may have. We are happy to answer your questions or send out additional photos. We will try to answer all questions but can't guarantee a response close to the end of the auction. Bid with confidence! Payment: We accept International Money Orders or Bank transfer (If you want to use this method, please contact us for banking details). Payment must be received within 10 days of the end of the auction otherwise the item will be relisted. Shipping: We ship worldwide. Free Shipping !!! Please ensure you agree with these terms before bidding!
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