Page 50 - Christie's London Fine Chinese Ceramics Nov. 2019

PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN GENTLEMAN
40
A RARE PAIR OF PALE GREENISH-WHITE JADE 'MAGPIE' BOXES AND COVERS
18TH-19TH CENTURY
Each box is naturalistically carved in the form of a recumbent magpie, with legs tucked under its body, the
plumage and tail feathers carved in fne detail. The stone is of an even pale tone, with a few minor areas of
mottled inclusion and some subtle enhanced russet skin on one box.
5Ω in. (14 cm.) long (2)
£15,000-20,000 US$19,000-25,000
€17,000-23,000
PROVENANCE:
Collection of Mr and Mrs B. Vernes, France, and then by descent within the family.
The prominent long tail seen on the current birds identifes them as magpies. Although Qing dynasty
quail-form boxes are relatively common, it is rare to see jade 'bird' boxes specifcally in the form of
a magpie.
Compare the current 'magpie' boxes to a pair in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, dated to
the Qing dynasty, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jadeware (III),
Hong Kong, 1995, p.224, no. 183. These examples are of very similar form to the present boxes but are
carved with lingzhi sprigs clasped in the beaks of the birds and inlaid with precious stones.
A single jade hardstone-inset 'magpie' box and cover, dated to the Qianlong period (1736-1795) was sold
at Bonham's London, 13 May 2010, lot 13.
See also a quail-form box and cover, dated to the 18th-early 19th century, sold at Christie's Hong Kong,
29 May 2019, lot 3025.

清十八/十九世紀 青白玉喜鵲蓋盒一對
來源:
法國B. Vernes珍藏,家傳至今
歐洲私人珍藏

48 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.