Page 19 - Christie's Fine Jade the LZJ Collection NYC September 21, 2023

808

A YELLOW JADE CARVING OF A FISH 遼 宋 十至十ρ世㈵ 黃玉魚形飾
LIAO-SONG DYNASTY, 10TH-12TH CENTURY
Ϝ源
安思遠

紐☼
The fish is realistically carved with a long dorsal fin along the spine, four lower fins, and a
-+;珍藏
美४
curled bifurcated tail. The mouth and the center of the back are each pierced with a tiny
perforation. The stone is of a light yellow tone with a dusting of russet. ֨ḛ
" $BSUFS
Ǘ5IF -+; $PMMFDUJPO PG
4¿ in. (10.5 cm.) long
$IJOFTF +BEFTǘ
і敦
年
頁
$10,000-15,000 編號
PROVENANCE:
Robert H. Ellsworth (1929-2014), New York.
The LJZ Collection, United States.
LITERATURE:
A. Carter, The LJZ Collection of Chinese Jades, London, 2022, pp. 54-55, no. 22.
Two small white jade fish of this type and size (10.5 cm.) were found suspended as
pendants in the Middle Liao tomb of the princess of the State Chen at Qingtongshanzhen
Maimanqi, Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, and are illustrated by Gu Fang (ed.), The
Complete Collection of Unearthed Jades in China, vol. 2, Beijing, 2005, pl. 95. Each fish
is pierced through the mouth, as is the present fish. Another yellowish-green jade fish of
comparable size (9 cm.), pierced as a pendant, is illustrated by Jessica Rawson, “Chinese
Jade throughout the ages”, Victoria and Albert Museum, T.O.C.S., vol. 40, 1973-75, no. 370.
807

A WHITE JADE CARVING OF A SOFTSHELL TURTLE SHELL 宋 明 白玉雕甲殼把Ы
SONG-MING DYNASTY (AD 960-1644)
Ϝ源
The carving is realistically formed as an empty turtle shell with a ridged and convex " 8 巴ḓ
珍藏
英४薩里郡
安思遠

紐☼
藏品編號 +*
carapace, and a flat bottom incised with lines to delineate the sectioned belly. The white
"OUIPOZ $BSUFS
і敦
年 月 日
stone has a satiny polish with a few areas of opaque mottling.
-+;珍藏
美४
1æ in. (4.4 cm.) long, cloth box
֨ḛ
$30,000-50,000 " $BSUFS
Ǘ5IF -+; $PMMFDUJPO PG
$IJOFTF +BEFTǘ
і敦
年
頁
編號
PROVENANCE:
A. W. Bahr (1877-1959) Collection, Surrey.
Robert H. Ellsworth (1929-2014), New York, no. JI650.
Anthony Carter, London, 26 March 2002.
The LJZ Collection, United States.
LITERATURE:
A. Carter, The LJZ Collection of Chinese Jades, London, 2022, pp. 26-27, no. 8.
Turtle and tortoise shells, in particular the plastron, or the flat underside, have been used
in China for pyromancy – a form of divination – from the earliest times, and jade models
of both types of shells have been found from Neolithic sites from a range of cultures.
See, for example, the jade model of a soft-shelled turtle shell from the Langjiatan culture,
circa 3000 BC, unearthed in Hanshan, Anhui province, and now in the Palace Museum,
BC, illustrated by Gu Fang (ed.) in The Complete Collection of Jades Unearthed in China,
vol. 6, Beijing, 2005, p. 2. See, also, the jade tortoise-shell ornament dated to the Tang
dynasty illustrated in Jade Wares Collection by Tianjin Museum, Beijing, 2012, p. 61, no. 44.
Jade carvings of turtle shells from the post archaic period are rare, and the current carving
is notable for its delicate naturalism, superb workmanship, and its fine, satiny polish. (another view)

16 17