A Bronze 'Tortoise' Stele

DATED FIRST YEAR OF YONGLE REIGN, CORRESPONDING TO YEAR 1403

明永樂銅板聖旨
the rectangular stele cast with an inscription, surmounted by two trailing dragons flanking two larger characters Sheng Zhi, (Imperial Edict), all supported on the back of a mythical tortoise standing foursquare with its mouth open to reveal its teeth and tongue.

Height 13 1/2 in., 34.3 cm.

Property from a Private Chicago Collection

In stable condition, showing heavy encrustations and patination. The feet with applied felt.

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Ms. Wu joined the firm in 2014, after working as a specialist in the Asian Works of Art Department of an East Coast auction house. She researches, appraises, and sells Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and South East Asian works of art, including jades, bronzes, ceramics, paintings, armor, and furniture. Throughout her career, Ms. Wu has achieved record prices for several prominent estates and collections, including the Estate of Frank G. Mertes, Sr., Winona, Minnesota; the Chinese Painting Collection of Ms. Yuan Jiaying and Mr. Li Guoyuan, Chicago; the Estate of Hisazo Nagatani, Chicago, and the Asian Art Collection deaccessioned from the Strong Museum of Play, Rochester, New York.

Chinese and Southeast Asian Works of Art

A Bronze 'Tortoise' Stele

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