Lot n° 217
Estimation :
200 - 300
EUR
Result with fees
Result
: 237EUR
Hu" shelf in gilded lacquered wood, - Lot 217
Hu" shelf in gilded lacquered wood,
Domed trapezoidal shape used by court dignitaries and mandarins.
China or Vietnam, 18th-19th century
L. 47 cm
(loss of gilding, small accident)
A hu (Chinese: 笏; pinyin: hù) is a flat scepter native to China, where they were originally used as narrow tablets to record notes and orders. Historically, they were used by officials throughout East Asia, including Japan, Korea, Ryukyu and Vietnam. In Japan, they are known as shaku. In some parts of East Asia, they continue to be used in Taoist and Shinto ritual contexts.
The hu eventually became a ritual instrument; it was also customary for officials to protect their mouths with their hu when addressing the emperor.
The hu can be made of different materials depending on the rank of the holder: sovereigns use jade, nobles use ivory and court officials use bamboo.
In the context of Taoism, a hu (simplified Chinese: 笏; traditional Chinese: 笏; pinyin: hù) is a flat rectangular wooden plate that dignitaries and officials of the Chinese imperial court held in front of them during official ceremonies. They were usually made of jade, lacquered wood or ivory and often bore engraved inscriptions or decorative symbols.
The use of hu declined during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912), but they remain an important symbol of Chinese culture and history. Examples can still be seen in museums and art collections around the world.
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