
Edward Luper
Specialist, Chinese Works of Art
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Sold for £3,825 inc. premium
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Specialist, Chinese Works of Art
清乾隆 青白玉浮雕仿古紋瓶
The taotie masks on the present jade vase, based on ancient bronze vessels, show the enthusiasm at Court for archaism. The Qianlong Emperor proposed to 'restore ancient ways', referring to the view of ancient culture as having intrinsic moral qualities of sincerity, simplicity and happy exuberance. For this purpose the Emperor instructed the Court to collect drawings of antiquities, such as the Xiqing gujian (Catalogue of Xiqing Antiquities). Jade carvers were thus encouraged to study archaic bronze vessels in the Qing Court Collection or in illustrated woodblock prints, and adapting them to the medium of jade; 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.
Compare with a related white jade incense tool vase, with archaistic motifs, Qianlong, which was sold at Bonhams London, 5 November 2020, lot 141.