Page 171 - 2020 October 8 HK Fine Classical Paintings

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A SMALL JADE CONG 新石器時代 玉琮 A WHITE-GLAZED VASE, YUHUCHUNPING 北宋至金 白釉玉壺春瓶
NEOLITHIC PERIOD NORTHERN SONG – JIN DYNASTY
來源： 來源：
each corner worked with three registers of animal masks, the elegantly potted with a pear-shaped body supported on a short
four corners divided by gently recessed vertical band in the 1995年前得於日本 splayed foot, gently tapering to a slender neck and a flared rim, 倫敦蘇富比 1987年6月19日，編號140
centre of each side covered overall in a rich ivory-white glaze falling short of the 日本私人收藏
6.3 cm, 2½ in. foot to reveal the crisp whitish-grey body
30.3 cm, 11¾ in.
PROVENANCE
Acquired in Japan prior to 1995. PROVENANCE
Sotheby’s London, 19th June 1987, lot 140.
Small jade cong of this form and size have been excavated A Japanese private collection.
from various Liangzhu culture sites, such as three discovered
from tomb M20 at Fanshan, Yuhang, Zhejiang province, A smaller bottle vase from the Jin dynasty, formerly in the
now in the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics collection of George Eumorfopoulous and now preserved in
and Archaeology, see the exhibition catalogue Liangzhu and the British Museum, London, no. 1936,1012.26, is illustrated
Ancient China. The 5000 Years Civilisation Demonstrated by in Shelagh J. Vainker, Chinese Pottery and Porcelain: From
Jades, Beijing, 2019, p. 152, M20:1-3. See another jade cong Prehistory to the Present, London, 1991, pp. 88-89, fig. 66.
of slightly larger size with comparable carving technique Compare also a Northern Song Ding example of similar size
excavated from tomb M21 demonstrating an asymmetrical and form which probably inspired this type of vases, from
pierced circular hole, published in Liangzhu yizhi qun kaogu the collections of Mr and Mrs Eugene Bernat and Manno Art
baogao: Fanshan [Reports of the Group Sites at Liangzhu. Museum, sold in our New York rooms, 7th November 1980, lot
Fanshan], Beijing, 2003, no. M21:4. 111, and again at Christie’s Hong Kong, 28th October 2002, lot
Although the function of these jade cong from the Liangzhu 514.
culture long remained a mystery, they are thought to have had
a ceremonial and possibly also a protective purpose. HK$ 400,000-600,000
US$ 52,000-77,500
HK$ 600,000-800,000
US$ 77,500-104,000