450.
A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL MODEL OF A DEER
Qing dynasty, 18th century
20,5 cm high
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina, Placido de Sangro (1829-1891) collection.
inv. n. 5267.
The deer (lu) – in this sculpture naturalistically depicted standing on a wooden base carved with rocks and a pine tree, supporting on the back a double gourd miniature vase, a lingzhi fungus in its mouth – is an animal with many symbolic meanings, usually associated with Daoism, because of the belief it is able to locate the lingzhi fungus of immortality, whose miraculous properties are absorbed by the antlers of the animal. It is also connected with the literati, as a wish to obtain high status and financial benefits. The examination which constitute the second of the three steps necessary to become an official, was introduce by the so called “Deer-cry Banquet” (liuming yan), a ritual which starts with music and the recitation of a poem from the “Book of Poetry” (Shijing) in memory of a famous party given by an emperor for his officials and guests.
