CARVED WOOD HELM. 18-19TH CENTURIES
Antiques - Miscellaneus / Other Objects
Reference: Z5907
Oriental ship's wheel, late 18th - early 19th century. Carved wood and brass. An oriental ship's wheel of English influence, crafted from brass and finely carved wood. The wheel's finial is sculpted in the round, taking the form of a greyhound's head with stylized features. The greyhound is a typical motif in English decorative arts of the period, but its essential, elongated, and sinuous lines remind us that this is an oriental piece. In fact, the central area of the wheel is entirely carved with the figure of a dragon coiled around the mast. This mythical creature represents the transformative power of nature, the Tao, as well as the concept of yang (masculine), and is associated with the weather as a bringer of rain and water. It is also often used as a national symbol of China, and indeed appeared on the national flag until the end of the Qing dynasty. Here it is depicted with great attention to detail, demonstrating a virtuosity typical of oriental ornamental sculpture: we see each of the dragon's scales, and even the ripples of the water beneath its body, the leaves among which it swims… The lower third of the rudder is almost entirely unadorned, displaying a smooth, slightly curved profile. Its tip is decorated with a simple recessed carving featuring a geometric motif in two planes.
· Size: 10x10x160 cms.
1.800 €
