Description:

A FINE AND RARE CARVED ‚NINE DRAGON‘ WALNUT HAND EXERCISER
China, Qing dynasty
L. 4,5 cm
Of rounded shape with raised central ridge, separating the two halves, finely carved with nine dragons. The surface is of characteristic pitted, wrinkled appearance and bears a rich, lustrous dark brown patina.
Collection of the former Foreign Minister of the GDR Lothar Bolz (1903 - 1986), by repute received as a guest gift from Zhou Enlai in the 1950s. From his estate sold Nagel, 11.11.1995, lot 483 and bought by the current owner

Compare Angus Forsyth et al. ‚Wood from the Scholar’s Table‘, Hongkong 1984, nos. 112-113 for two sets of walnut exercisers carved with decorative motifs. See also Gerard Tsang and Hugh Moss ‚Arts from the Scholar’s Studio‘, Oriental Ceramic Society of Hongkong, Hong Kong 1986, no. 259. Daniel Eskenazi notes in his exhibtion catalogue ‚Room for study: fifty scholar’s objects‘, 31.10 - 29.11. 2019 for no. 6 (a pair
of walnut hand exercicers): ‚Hand exercicers, whether of pebbles, balls or walnuts, are known from at least the Qing dynasty. According to Tsang and Moss, op. Cit., these were intended to be ‚passed around one hand, manipulating the fingers, the idea being that they should not touch each other in the process‘. In addition to presumably relieving tension, they were intended to increase muscle tone and circulation in the hands.‘ - Rich old patina

Handtrainer aus einer geschnitzten Walnuss mit neun Drachen
China, Qing-Dynastie
L. 4,5 cm
Sammlung des ehemaligen Außenministers der DDR Lothar Bolz (1903 - 1986), laut Überlieferung als Gastgeschenk von Zhou Enlai in den 1950er Jahren erhalten. Aus seinem Nachlass verkauft Nagel, 11.11.1995, Los 483 und vom jetzigen Besitzer erworben

Vergleiche Angus Forsyth et al. 'Wood from the Scholar's Table', Hongkong 1984, Nr. 112-113 für zwei Sets von mit dekorativen Motiven geschnitzten Nussbaum-Handtrainer. Siehe auch Gerard Tsang und Hugh Moss "Arts from the Scholar's Studio", Oriental Ceramic Society of Hongkong, Hongkong 1986, Nr. 259. Daniel Eskenazi vermerkt in seinem Ausstellungskatalog 'Room for study: fifty scholar's objects', 31.10 - 29.11. 2019 für Nr. 6 (ein Paar Handtrainer aus Nussbaumholz): Handtrainer, ob aus Kieselsteinen, Kugeln oder Walnüssen, sind mindestens seit der Qing-Dynastie bekannt. Nach Tsang und Moss, a.a.O., waren sie dazu bestimmt, "um eine Hand herumgereicht zu werden, wobei die Finger manipuliert werden sollten, ohne dass sie sich dabei berühren". Vermutlich sollten sie nicht nur Verspannungen lösen, sondern auch den Muskeltonus und die Durchblutung der Hände fördern - Schöne alte Patina

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