Tê Hsing-lung (active China, late 19th century)
Document Holder with Chinese Characters and Natural Motifs, late 18th century
Lacquered and gilded leather with brass mountings, 41 cm (16 1/8 in.)
This cylindrical, red leather Chinese document holder is about 16 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. The body of the long cylinder is decorated with an overall dense, complex Chinese meander pattern (an intricate variation of the Greek key design) in gilding. There are several large gold outlined circles interspersed randomly around the cylinder. Each of the stylized red and gold motifs inside these large circles is different. The motifs include a windchime, butterfly, bird, or botanical theme. The two removable ends of the cylinder show a gilded background pattern of interlocking small circles with a larger, simple, gilded Greek key design on the top and bottom ends. Short, hollow, tarnished brass tubes are attached to the main cylinder and ends to function as mounting devices.
Vatichino
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.