Page 68 - Christies May 9, 2017 Kensington

66 Similar examples are held in the Palace Museum collection in Beijing and are
illustrated in Zhongguo Yuqi Quanji, 6, Hebei Meishu Chupanshe, 1991, pls.
A SPINACH GREEN-JADE ARCHAISTIC VESSEL AND COVER, 89 & 90.
TULU
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795) A very similar vessel with loose-ring dragon handles was sold at Christie’s
Hong Kong, 27 November 2007, Important Chinese Jades from the Personal
The vessel is modelled after an archaic bronze pigment container. The body Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman Part II, lot 1548, which was illustrated
is carved in shallow relief with a band of interlaced kui dragons above shou by R. Kleiner, Chinese Jades from the Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman,
characters separated by taotie masks on the columnar corners. Two everted Hong Kong, 1996.
stylised ruyi-form handles rise from each side. The cover is surmounted by an
openwork coiled dragon supported by four coiled chilong. The stone is of a rich A jadeite vessel of similar form bearing a yuzhi mark sold at Christie’s Hong
mottled spinach-green tone. Kong, 28 April, 1996, lot 12; and another from the T.Y. Chao Collection sold at
Christie’s Hong Kong, 24-25 October 1993, lot 1014.
£30,000-50,000 $38,000-63,000
€35,000-58,000 清乾隆 碧玉蟠螭鈕蓋四足爐

The bronze form displayed by the present lot exemplifes the taste for
archaism which became popular in the Qing court.

The original function of a tulu was artistic. The tubular compartments at
each corner were used to hold coloured pigments, which were subdivided by
wooden splats, while the central compartment held a saucer and water for
mixing.

66