Page 18 - 2019 September 9th Bonhams Important Chinese Works of Art
P. 18
816 (two sides)
816
A YELLOW JADE ‘LOTUS’ BRUSHWASHER
18th century
Carved as a ribbon-tied bouquet of lotus and millet, the two largest
lotus leaves with curled edges forming the water receptacles,
interspersed with lotus blossoms and millet ears, a naturalistically
carved frog, water snail and dragonfly adding elements of whimsy to
the design, the details of the leaves and petals all finely incised, the
evenly-colored stone with white inclusions and traces of the russet
skin.
6in (15.2cm) long
$8,000 - 12,000
十八世紀 黃玉雕束蓮筆洗
The outline of the washer likely conforms to the shape of the jade
pebble and the rarity of yellow jade is evidenced by the way the brown
skin has been retained in an effort to maximize the usage of the stone.
The skill of the carver is displayed by the inward furling edges of the
leaves and the fine incising of the details, which although carved from
jade, give the washer a sense of delicacy and softness.
16 | BONHAMS
