Bonhams 1793 : A rare large jadeite mythical bird vessel and cover Late Qing dynasty

Bonhams magazines

My Bonhams

Advanced search

24 Nov 2010 10:00 CST Hong Kong
Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
Back to auction 18592

A rare large jadeite mythical bird vessel and cover

Late Qing dynasty
Of archaistic zun form, the impressive vessel finely worked in the form of a legendary mythical bird, combining the features of an owl and an eagle, depicted poised with alert expression, its head separately formed as the cover, with ferocious features naturalistically depicted, its sharp talons resting on rockwork, its whole body skilfully worked with archaistic taotie masks and whorl motifs amidst leiwen scroll, the brilliant emerald-green and icy-white stone suffused with attractive tinges of darker green, elaborate carved wood stand, accompanying gemology certificate.
29.8cm high.

Sold for HK$ 660,000 inc. premium

Footnotes

晚清翡翠雕鷹像蓋瓶

Provenance:
From an old American collection, sold to the current owner in the 1990s

It is extremely rare to find a jadeite vessel of this large form, simulating a Shang dynasty prototype. 'Owl' zun vessels of this rare form, utilised as ritual bronze wine vessels in ancestor worship rituals by the Shang dynasty aristocracy, have been recovered and preserved in collections, including the famous example in the Arthur Sackler Collection, illustrated by Robert Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur N. Sackler Collections, vol. 1, Washington D.C., 1987, p. 406, no. 72.

A closely related vessel, possibly the pair, formerly in the collection of Earl Morse, was sold at Sotheby's New York, 24 March 1998, lot 368, and again 15 September 2010, lot 412. See also a pair from the Avery Brundage collection in the Asian Art Museum, illustrated by Knight, Lee, and Bartholomew, Later Chinese Jades, San Francisco, 2007, pl. 189.

Category: Asian Art / Chinese Works of Art

Auction terms and conditions