A LACQUERED WOOD SADDLE, QING DYNASTY Lot n° 50

A LACQUERED WOOD SADDLE, QING DYNASTY South China, Yunnan Province, 19th century. The wood lacquered black, crimson red and ochre yellow with stylized floral ornaments, various emblems, as well as dotted and linear designs, tied to a leather base. This saddle is from the Yi ethnic minority in Yunnan Province. Provenance: Michel Paciello, Venice. Collection of Dr. Koos de Jong, acquired from the above in 2013. Dr. de Jong is a Dutch art historian and has been privately collecting Chinese art over decades. He has authored hundreds of articles and several books on Dutch fine and decorative arts spanning from the Middle Ages to the modern era and published an extensive study of saddle rugs in Dragon & Horse. Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond. Between 1976 and 2009 he worked for numerous museums across the Netherlands and was director of the European Ceramic Work Center in Den Bosch. Condition: The wood with extensive wear, age cracks, chips and small losses. Some losses and wear to the lacquer with weathering in some areas. Some losses and minor cracks to the mother-of-pearl. The leather with extensive wear, creasing, and stains. Weight: 1,800 g Dimensions: Length 41 cm The Yi or Nuosuo people (historically known as Lolo) are an ethnic group in China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Numbering nine million people, they are the seventh largest of the 55 ethnic minority groups officially recognized by the People’s Republic of China. They live primarily in rural areas of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, usually in mountainous regions. With an associated metal stand. (2) Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 15 September 2018, lot 1310 Estimate: USD 6,000 or approx. EUR 6,900 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A pair of black-ground polychrome lacquer ceremonial saddles, Qing dynasty Expert remark: Compare the related black lacquer ground and similar polychrome decoration. Note the larger size (50.8 cm) and that the lot comprises a pair.