Page 22 - March 17, 2020 Imperial Jade and Cloisonne, Sotheby's, New York

○ 7 A WHITE JADE MARRIAGE 清十八 / 十九世紀 白玉雕年年
BOWL
有餘紋龍耳活環洗
QING DYNASTY, 18TH / 19TH CENTURY
來源
the broad rounded sides resting on a stepped splayed foot rising Walter N. Rothschild 夫人 (1896-1987) 收藏
to a slightly incurved rim, set with a pair of winged-dragon- 1963年贈予布魯克林博物館，布魯克林 (館藏
shaped handles each suspending a loose ring, the center of the 編號63.6.5)
interior worked in high relief with a pair of catfish amidst lingzhi
and foliate scroll, the remainder of the surface left plain to
emphasize the lustrous white stone tinged a pale celadon
Width 9¼ in., 23.5 cm

PROVENANCE
Collection of Mrs. Walter N. Rothschild (1896-1987).
Gifted to the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, in 1963 (acc. no.
63.6.5).
‘Marriage bowls’ were popular during the Qing period, and were
decorated with auspicious motifs that conferred blessings and
good wishes upon the owners. The winged dragon is one of the
nine traditional representations of the creature and is symbolic
of imperial power. Notably, when viewed from the top the winged
dragons resemble butterflies, a motif that was commonly
employed on marriage bowls due to their symbolism of marital
bliss. Furthermore, the pair of catfish on this piece represents
the wish, ‘May you have plenty year after year’ (niannian youyu).
Compare marriage bowls with slightly different forms and
variations of the winged dragons, such as two illustrated in
Zhongguo yuqi quanji [Compendium of Chinese Jade], vol. 6,
Shijiazhung, 1993, pls 314 and 316. See also one attributed to
the Qianlong period, with related handles but with the rest of the
vessel left plain, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th April 2011, lot
3224.
$ 60,000-80,000

40 PROPERTY FROM THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM, SOLD TO SUPPORT MUSEUM COLLECTIONS 41