Asian Works of Art

The chime, substantial in weight and adorned with intricate low-relief carvings on both sides, is divided into two distinct registers by a central band of intertwined Kui dragons.
The upper register depicts a graceful phoenix soaring amidst swirling clouds, while the lower register presents a dynamic scene of two lions locked in playful combat over a brocade ball, a motif representing strength, prosperity, and joyful rivalry, crowning the piece is an elegantly crafted floral-form brass suspension ring.

Note:
The Chinese stone chime (qing) has its origins as a ritual musical instrument used in the imperial courts of ancient China, where its resonant tone not only embodied cosmic harmony but also signified rank and authority. Beyond their musical function, such instruments became powerful symbols of social status and refinement. After the Qin and Han dynasties, the use of stone chimes in orchestras gradually declined, and they were increasingly produced as decorative objects for temples and grand halls, serving both ceremonial and symbolic purposes. Within the scholar’s studio, miniature or decorative versions further reflected erudition and cultivated taste.

The present example is carved from duan stone, a material prized for its rarity and subtle beauty. Its refined surface and rich coloration recall the patina of archaic bronze. While Chinese chimes were traditionally rendered in a chevron form, this large example is carved in the distinctive shape of two conjoined ruyi heads, a form associated with auspicious wishes. The primary decoration features phoenixes in flight among billowing clouds, above playful fu lions tumbling with brocade balls—a combination of motifs deeply charged with blessings of prosperity, longevity, and auspicious fortune. The larger scale, material, and decorative program suggest that this chime was conceived as a fine decorative piece, likely intended for display in a temple or hall as a potent emblem of authority and auspicious power.

For a pudding stone example in a similar form, see Literati / Curiosity II, Sotheby's Hong Kong, 4 April 2016, lot 2933.

For a carved duan stone vase with similar auspicious decoration, see Important Chinese Art, Sotheby's New York, 20 March 2019, lot 697.

For a carved 'bat and cloud' duan stone example, see China Guardian Beijing, November 29, 2023, lot 4702.

For a pair of similar examples, see Duoyunxun Auction, Shanghai, December 18, 2019, lot 1562.