A pair of Chinese huangtong "Deer" lamps, Qing dynasty 鹿形燭臺一對清

Each modeled in the form of a handsome deer holding a lamp with cup reservoir on its back, joined to a sprig of lingzhi fungus in its mouth, the octagonal base incised with animals, birds and two Chinese characters: Fu(fortune) and Shou(Longevity)

H: 15 ½ in.

The deer, homophonous in Chinese with Lu (wealth), together with the symbols "Shou" (longevity) and "Fu" (good fortune), allude to the three star-gods of felicity, Sanxing: Luxing, Fuxing and Shouxing.

Formerly in the collection of Franklin Lee Hand (1927-2019), San Francisco, noted antiques dealer and patron of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

Thence by descent.

Frank Hand arrived in San Francisco after serving in the United States military, eventually becoming an executive at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife). He retired in the 1970s and became an antiques dealer specializing in Asian arts. Mr. Hand acquired many works from his friend, the noted dealer and San Francisco cultural leader Chingwah Lee (1901-1980), local auction houses such as Butterfields, and directly from San Francisco and East Bay estates being dispersed in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a major benefactor to the San Francisco Asian arts museum, with several donated works including a rare pair of carved Indian armchairs designed by Lockwood de Forrest (accession #2011.58.1-.2).

A pair of Chinese huangtong "Deer" lamps, Qing dynasty 鹿形燭臺一對 清

A pair of Chinese huangtong "Deer" lamps, Qing dynasty 鹿形燭臺一對 清

A pair of Chinese huangtong "Deer" lamps, Qing dynasty 鹿形燭臺一對清

A pair of Chinese huangtong "Deer" lamps, Qing dynasty 鹿形燭臺一對清