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Property from a California Private Collection, by Descent
Lot 8048
A fine archaistic very pale greenish-white jade vase Qianlong period
28 June 2016, 12:00 PDT
San FranciscoUS$80,000 - US$120,000
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A fine archaistic very pale greenish-white jade vase
Qianlong period
Exceptionally carved from a single piece of very pale greenish-white stone, the flattened body swelling elegantly before narrowing to rest on a small stepped foot, the smooth sides minimally embellished with a band of shallow-carved taotie masks above the foot and another band of confronted chilong around the neck, flanked by a pair of chilong handles suspending loose rings, the lip and foot incised with a key fret band; carved wood stand and cover.
7 7/8in (19.8cm) high
Exceptionally carved from a single piece of very pale greenish-white stone, the flattened body swelling elegantly before narrowing to rest on a small stepped foot, the smooth sides minimally embellished with a band of shallow-carved taotie masks above the foot and another band of confronted chilong around the neck, flanked by a pair of chilong handles suspending loose rings, the lip and foot incised with a key fret band; carved wood stand and cover.
7 7/8in (19.8cm) high
Footnotes
清乾隆 青白玉雕饕餮紋雙耳活環瓶
Provenance
By repute, acquired in New York in the 1940s
The present lot is an exceptional example of the quality, tradition and innovation characteristic of Qianlong period jade workmanship. It is striking for the elegant balance achieved between the broadly swelling body and the narrow stepped foot. This playful yet sophisticated approach to proportion illustrates the craftsman's ability to respond to the natural qualities of each individual raw stone, and to create a unique form within the prevailing tradition of archaism.
While the proportions of the present lot are exceptionally rare and pleasing, the contrast between the restrained, smoothly polished body and the delicate low relief archaistic decorative bands is typical of Qianlong period design. The refined carving allows the purity and translucence of the natural stone to be appreciated fully, so taking full advantage of the highest quality stones from Khotan that became available following the subjugation of Xinjiang. The use of motifs such as the taotie mask, derived from archaic bronzes, embodies the preoccupation of the Qianlong Emperor himself to restore China's greatness through studying the strict moral principles of ancient times.
For related examples of fine archaistic jade vases, see a square form vase carved with taotie masks from the Qing Court Collection illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jadeware (II), Hong Kong, 2006, no. 146, and a vase and cover from the Joanna Lau Sullivan Collection sold in our New York rooms, sale 23337, 14 March 2016, lot 8064.