Page 162 - Important Chinese Art Sothebys March 2019

THE NICKERSON

‘IMPERIAL PROCESSION’
BRUSHPOT

Forming a virtual diorama, the present brushpot is an jade fragments were in the Imperial Collection. Following
extravagant statement of luxurious refinement. the the Western campaigns and subsequent access to an
superlative quality of stone, subject matter and artistry abundant supply of uncarved jade, jade carving flourished
reflect the power and accomplishment of the Qianlong throughout the empire. the ruyi guan (Imperial Department
period and the unparalleled ability to access such rarefied for production) began recruiting skilled jade craftsmen,
material and talent. while at the same time it continued to send uncarved jade
to the eight departments under the Imperial court, the most
the combination of riders carrying ceremonial court
implements and those wielding weapons imply that the scene important of which was in suzhou. production was strictly
is of an imperial outing in the mountain, perhaps for a hunt controlled and each piece was carefully selected before
being displayed at court.
or simply to enjoy the natural ambiance. a closely related
scene with riders bearing the same types of equipment in a the jade of this brushpot is remarkable for its even white
forested mountain is carved into a large spinach-green jade tonality across such a large expanse of stone. the pale
brushpot in the collection of the asian art museum of san color allows light to filter through the material, bringing out
Francisco, obj. no. B60J29. the same collection also includes the depths of the carving, thereby enhancing the three-
a spinach-green jade boulder depicting a hunt scene, wherein dimensionality and vivacity of the scenes depicted. the
a group of riders amble along the path chatting, while others inherent qualities of the stone, and the rarity of finding
are in hot pursuit of fleeing tigers and deer (obj. no. B60J49). such a desirable and sizable block to work from, would
additional large-format Qing jade carvings illustrating hunt undoubtedly have inspired the artisan to maximize the
scenes include a dark green jade brushpot in the collection material’s potential by carving a grand and complex scene
of the national palace museum, taipei, published in into its surface. other 18th century white or whitish-celadon
Masterworks of Chinese Jade in the National Palace Museum, jade brushpots intricately carved with figural scenes
national palace museum, taipei, 1969, cat. no. 36; a spinach- include an example featuring scholars and attendants at a
green jade brushpot from the national museum of history, riverside retreat, in the collection of the palace museum,
taiwan, exhibited and published in Jade: Ch’ing Dynasty Beijing, published in the Complete Collection of Treasures
Treasures from the National Museum of History, Taiwan, of the Palace Museum: Jadeware (III), hong Kong, 195, pl.
national history museum, taiwan, 1997, cat. no. 30; a white 167; an example carved with a Daoist scene, formerly in
jade boulder in the collection of the national palace museum, the collection of heber Bishop, and now in the collection
taipei, exhibited and published in The Refined Taste of the of the metropolitan museum of art, new York, acc. no.
Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jades 02.418.209; another, also from the Bishop Collection,
of the Ch’ing Court, national palace museum, taipei, 1997, bearing a scene of an immortal surrounded by attendants in
cat. no. 52; and a circular spinach-green jade table screen a forest setting, sold in these rooms, 16th september 2009,
illustrated in roger Keverne, Jade, London, 1995, pl. 138. lot 251; an ‘Immortals’ themed brushpot, formerly in the
Kitsen Collection, sold most recently at Christie’s new York,
Beyond the exemplary carving, the quality of the stone
itself testifies to the present brushpot’s production in the 17th september 2008, lot 329; a brushpot depicting sages
mid-Qing period. prior to the 24th year of the Qianlong walking amidst pine trees, most recently sold in our hong
Kong rooms, 7th april 2015, lot 3643; and a brushpot with
reign (1760), jade arrived at the imperial court in very small the ‘hundred boys’ merrily playing in a garden landscape,
amounts. Yang Boda, in ‘the Glorious age of Chinese Jade’,
Jade, London, 1991, p. 146, notes that by the 6th year of the from the collection of robert e. and Katharine Chew tod,
Qianlong reign (1742) only 10 pristine jade objects and 66 sold in these rooms, 23rd march 2011, lot 612.

160 SOTHEBY’S Important ChInese art