
Bruce Maclaren
Global Head, Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy
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Sold for US$16,325 inc. premium
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Global Head, Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy



清乾隆 雞骨玉仿古饕餮紋蓋爐
Provenance:
Virginia Hobart (1876-1958), thence by descent
Inspired by the shape and decoration of archaic bronze gui food vessels of the Zhou dynasty, the present lot is a fine example of the stylistic developments during the 18th century spurred on by the directives of the Qianlong emperor. Aiming to 'restore the ancient ways', the Qianlong emperor wished to reinstate the intrinsic qualities of simplicity, sincerity and happy exuberance of the ancient cultures. For this purpose, he instructed the court to collect drawings of antiquities, such as the Xi Qing Gujian (Catalogue of Xiqing Antiquities), which served as the blueprint for the designs of contemporary vessels. See Chang Li-tuan, The Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jades of the Ch'ing Court, Taipei, 1997, pp.49-50.
A related Qianlong period spinach jade censer and cover, was sold in our London rooms, 11 May 2017, lot 237; and a chicken bone jade example from the collection of Harold E. Stack was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 24 Nov 2012, lot 216.