Page 106 - 2021 March 18th Junkunc Collection Christie's New York City

IMPORTANT CHINESE ART FROM THE JUNKUNC COLLECTION | 瓊肯珍藏重要中國藝術

656
A WELL-CARVED WHITE JADE 'TWIN FISH' 清乾隆 白玉雙魚洗
BRUSH WASHER
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795) 來源:
史蒂芬 • 瓊肯三世（1978年逝）珍藏。
The shallow, rounded sides are raised on a low, narrow foot ring, and
the center is carved in relief with two fish. The translucent stone of
pale greenish-white color and some opaque mottling on one side and
is well polished.
4æ in. (12 cm.) diam.

$60,000-80,000
PROVENANCE:
Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978) Collection.

At 12 cm. diameter this washer is an unusually diminutive example of illustrated catalogue of ancient bronzes commissioned by
Qianlong period jade washers of this shape, carved on the interior with the Qianlong emperor and compiled between 1749 and 1755.
two fish. An example in the Baur Collection, Geneva, illustrated by Two jade vessels, made in imitation of ancient bronze pan, in
Pierre-F. Schneeberger, The Baur Collection - Chinese Jades and Other the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, are illustrated in The
Hardstones, Geneva, 1976, no. B10, is 13.2 cm. diam., and appears to be Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and
raised on a similar ring foot, as does another (15 cm.) illustrated by Yang Pictorial Jades of the Ch'ing Court, Taipei, 1997, one of circular
Boda (ed.), A Romance with Jade: From the De An Tang Collection, Beijing, shape, pp. 68-69, pl. 7, the other of oval shape with an everted
2004, p. 39, pl. 16. Another larger (17.8 cm.), unpublished example is in a rim, pp. 74-75, pl. 9.The same motif, but with the fish facing in
British private collection. And the largest (25.5 cm. diam.), in the Irving opposite directions, is also found on Longquan celadon washers
Collection, was sold at Christie's New York, 20 March 2019, lot 806. of Southern Song date (1127-1279), but rather than the straight
These latter two washers are raised on small feet and each has the same sides of the jade washers they have an everted rim.
imperial inscription and cyclical date (1786).
The motif of two fish, often referred to as "twin fish", is symbolic
On all of these washers the fish are shown side by side and facing in the of "connubial felicity" and an emblem of harmony, and when the
same direction, and are carved in high relief and somewhat undercut in an fish in the bottom of these jade washers were covered in water
archaistic style inspired by those found on bronze basins of Han-dynasty they would perfectly represent the rebus yushui hexie, "may you
date, six of which are illustrated in Xiqing gujian - Qingding siku quanshu, be as harmonious as fish and water."
Shanghai, vol. 2, 2003, pp. 692-95. The Xiqing gujian is a 40-volume

104 (another view)