Golden Deer

anonymous, c. 1700 - c. 1799

The Chinese character for ‘deer,’ lu, shares its pronunciation with the character for ‘good income’. The animal therefore symbolizes the prosperous life resulting from a successful career. With a lingzhi, a ‘fungus of immortality,’ in its mouth the deer becomes a bearer of good wishes, extending the hope that financial prosperity continues throughout one’s life.

  • Artwork typedecoratief object, dierfiguur
  • Object numberAK-RBK-17525
  • Dimensionsheight 18.6 cm x width 13.7 cm x depth 6.2 cm

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • Golden Deer
    • Gold deer

  • Object type

  • Object number

    AK-RBK-17525

  • Description

    Dierenfiguur van goud, voorstellende een pruimebloesem-hert. Het beeld staat op een rechthoekige basis van lapis lazuli.

Creation

  • Creation

    goldsmith: anonymous, China

  • Dating

    c. 1700 - c. 1799

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Material and technique

  • Dimensions

    height 18.6 cm x width 13.7 cm x depth 6.2 cm

Acquisition and rights

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    …; from Dr Fritz Mannheimer (1890-1939), Amsterdam and Paris, fl. 6,350,000, en bloc, to Artistic & General Securities Ltd. as security for a loan from the Mendelssohn & Co. Bank, but kept in usufruct, 1934;{NHA, 476, RMA Archive, inv. no. 2142, Recapitulatie der geïnventariseerde kunstvoorwerpen van wijlen Dr F. Mannheimer, undated, p. 37, no. Pr 79, Artistic no. 22/52; NHA, 233, Arrondissementsrechtbank Amsterdam, inv. no. 1365, “O.R. 256/1939, Faillissementsdossier: nalatenschap Dr. F. Mannheimer, 28 augustus 1939”, image 3, page 2.} purchased from Mendelssohn & Co. Bank, en bloc, by the Dienststelle Mühlmann, The Hague, for Adolf Hitler's Führermuseum, Linz, 1940;{Korthals Altes 1974, pp. 21-22.} war recuperation, SNK, 1945;{HNA, SNK Archive, 2.08.42, inv. no. 548.} on loan, with 1,702 other objects, from the DRVK to the museum, 1952;{Note RMA.} transferred to the museum, 1960

  • Remarks

    Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.

Documentation

  • Menno Fitski, 'Een Chinees gouden hert opnieuw in de belangstelling', Aziatische Kunst 34/3 (2004), pp. 7-11.

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  • Golden Deer
  • Golden Deer
  • Golden Deer
  • Golden Deer
  • Golden Deer