Page 151 - Christie's London Fine Chinese Ceramics Nov. 2019

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A FINELY CARVED WHITE JADE MARRIAGE BOWL executed in the Mughal style. The Qianlong Emperor had a particular
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795) admiration for Mughal jades, which were sent as gifts and tribute from the
The elegant bowl has lobed sides and is delicately carved on the West. This in turn, inspired the production of fne imperial Mughal-style jades
exterior with subtle foliate designs in low relief. The rim is fanked by a during the Qianlong reign. It is unusual to fnd a combination of traditional
pair of deeply carved and pierced stylised winged dragon handles with Chinese motifs, such as the winged dragon-form handles, with Mughal-style
loose rings, all supported on four Mughal-style bud-form feet. form and foliate decoration. It is possible that this bowl represents an early
12 in. (30.5 cm.) across handles period in jade carving inspired by Mughal originals.
£100,000-150,000 US$130,000-190,000 Compare a white-jade marriage bowl with similarly-carved winged dragon-
€120,000-170,000 form handles, sold at Christie's London, 10 November 2015, lot 88; and a
white jade marriage bowl also with winged dragon-form handles sold at
Bowls of this type, known as 'marriage' bowls were often presented
Christie's Hong Kong, 28 November 2018, lot 2938.
as wedding gifts, as their carefully chosen auspicious decoration
symbolised the joyful union of husband and wife. They were popular
in the Qing dynasty, especially under the reign of the Qianlong 清乾隆 白玉瑞獸活環耳花口洗
Emperor. The fnely carved archaistic winged dragons convey a
來源:
sense of strength and power.
Apart from its fnely-carved auspicious decoration, the present 英國私人珍藏
marriage bowl is also notable for its thinly-carved lobed sides
embellished with upright acanthus leaves and bud-form feet

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