Page 407 - Christies Fine Chinese Works of Art March 2016 New York

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION 1714

1714 1715

A LARGE CARVED LAPIS LAZULI GOURD- 405
FORM JAR AND COVER

The jar is naturalistically carved in the shape
of a large gourd surrounded by smaller
gourds borne on leafy vines. Two long-
tailed birds are depicted standing on rocks
beside the large gourd, while a third is
perched at the top. The cover is similarly
decorated with small gourds. The stone is of
an attractive, vivid blue tone with paler gray
areas.

7¬ in. (19.3 cm.) high

$4,000-6,000

PROVENANCE

Acquired c. 1900-1960s, and thence by
descent within the family to the present
owner.

青金石雕瓜瓞綿綿蓋罐

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF JAMES E.
BREECE III

1715

A LAPIS LAZULI ARCHAISTIC POURING
VESSEL AND COVER, GONG
QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)

The faceted sides of the vessel are carved
in low relief with taotie masks divided and
separated by notched fanges, with further
taotie masks below the rim, and an openwork
scroll handle and a scrolled loop below the
handle. The cover is carved in the form of
a recumbent animal, with an animal head
at the front, a taotie mask at the rear, and
scrolls and pseudo-fanges on the sides,
below a dragon-scroll handle. An apocryphal
Qianlong four-character mark is inscribed
on the base, and the stone is of bright blue
color with whitish inclusions.

4æ in. (12.1 cm.) long

$4,000-6,000

PROVENANCE

Sotheby’s New York, 26 March 1996, lot 97.
Christie’s New York, 22-23 March 2012, lot
1951.

清 青金石雕饕餮紋觥