Page 122 - Important Chinese Art Hong Kong April 2, 2019 Sotheby's

3627

A WHITE JADE ‘DRAGON’ WATERPOT 清乾隆 白玉浮雕如意雲龍紋水盂
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

superbly worked with deep rounded sides rising from a flat
base to an incurved rim, the shoulder decorated in high relief
with a pair of confronting five-clawed dragons soaring amidst
ruyi clouds, each depicted with a prominent head and scaly
writhing body, the substantial stone of an opaque white
colour, zitan stand
13.4 cm, 5¼ in.
HK$ 1,500,000-2,000,000
US$ 192,000-255,000

This piece is remarkable for its motif of two lively dragons
masterfully rendered twisting their body around the opening
of the vessel. Carved almost in the round, the beasts’ scaly
and muscular body creates a dramatic contrast to the
otherwise undecorated vessel.
A similarly carved waterpot, also inscribed with a poetic
inscription by the Qianlong Emperor, in the Palace Museum,
Beijing, is illustrated in Scholar’s Paraphernalia. Classics
of the Forbidden City, Beijing, 2009, pl. 231; a celadon jade
example lacking the inscription and carved with two dragons
and a chilong, from the collection of Mr and Mrs Djahanguir
Riahi, was sold in our Paris rooms, 22nd June 2017, lot 3; and
a smaller one was sold in these rooms, 3rd October 2018,
lot 3350. See also one carved entirely with dragons among
waves and clouds, sold at Christie’s New York, 22nd/23rd
March 2012, lot 1862.

120 SOTHEBY ’S IMPORTANT CHINESE ART