明清象牙雕刻拍卖精品集粹

象牙制品历史悠久,可上溯至距今7000千年前的河姆渡文化遗址中。早在商周时期牙角雕日渐繁荣,到唐宋时期,雕制技艺和工艺已日臻成熟。明朝时更加流行,更是将其列为珍宝类艺术品,甚至被统治者用作等级制度的象征。近些年随着牙角资源的匮乏,以及保护野生动物力度的加大,象牙制品日益稀缺,加之收藏作为人们的一种高雅的消遣和投资理财活动已日趋普遍,业余收藏爱好者数量不断扩大,其收藏的品种和门类也在不断增多,包括角雕在内的一些过去十分难得一见的高贵工艺美术品,现在终于有人敢于问津,故而愈显象牙雕刻艺术的瑰丽之妍。
此次集中了2011年春季拍卖象牙雕刻艺术品成交前50位的精品力作,展现了明清象牙雕刻最为传统的意味和极高的艺术水准。
The ivories have a long history, dating back to 7,000 years ago at the site of Hemudu culture. As early as Shang and Zhou dynasties, ivory and horn carvings was growing prosperously; till Tang and Song dynasties, the carving art and crafts had become mature. In Ming dynasty the ivory carvings became more popular. They were listed as treasures of art, even were being used by the rulers as a symbol of hierarchy.

In recent years, with the lack of ivory and horn resources and the increasing protection of wild animals, the scarcity of ivory is growing. Plus collection as a kind of elegant recreation and investing activity have become more common, amateur collectors and their collecting species and categories are increasing. Including ivory carvings, some very rare arts and crafts in the past can finally be attempted by collectors. Therefore, the magnificent of art of ivory carvings has become prominent.

This quality work, focusing the top 50 traded ivory carving of 2011 spring auctions, shows the most traditional means and high artistic standard of Ming and Qing ivory carvings