33.1 cm. （13 in.） high

Property from the Hongzhen Tang Collection, Hong Kong

The inscription reads and literally translates as：
鵬摶萬裏 Peng Tuan Wan Li
喜結鳥形Xi Jie Niao Xing
故特志之 Gu Te Zhi Zi
萬曆丁醜 Wanli Dingchou
溫如玉 Wen Ruyu

“Titled the mythical bird that travels ten thousand miles
By chance in resemblance to the shape of the mythical bird
Hence inscribed the following description.
Dated dingchou year of Wanli period （corresponding to 1577）
By Wen Ruyu”

The present lot is attributed to carver Wen Ruyu （1528-1569）, who is reputedly a stone carver from Yunyang during the Ming dynasty； he passed his mid-level civil examinations on the 28th year of Jiajing period （corresponding to 1549） and his final civil examinations on the 32nd year of Jiajing period （corresponding to 1553）, before eventually joining the official ranks as a deputy general of the provincial government in charge of inspections of military provisions and navel defense as well as
political education.

Not to be mistaken as the phoenix, the peng is a large mythological bird which is said to have enormous wingspan which is transformed from a giant fish, kun. It is rumoured in legends, that by spreading its wings, the peng can shroud the heavens； and with a single flap of its gigantic wings, it can travel vast distances.

Provenance：
Yu Si Tang Collection
A North American Private Collection
Christie’s New York, 2 March 2011, lot 1528

Price estimate:
HKD: 520, 000 - 620, 000
USD: 66, 700 - 79, 500

Auction Result:
HKD: --