Page 96 - Important Chinese Art Hong Kong April 2, 2019 Sotheby's

This ewer is remarkable for the fine level of craftsmanship
evident in the exquisitely carved details of the vessel,
ranging from the low-relief archaistic decoration on the
body to the ornately modelled ‘dragon’ handle and ringed
‘phoenix’ spout. The interior and exterior are both polished
to the same level of perfection. The form of this ewer is
loosely modelled after archaic bronze zun vessels from the
Han dynasty. However the compressed form of the original
has been elongated in a more elegant manner, the mouth
tapering to the spout in the form of a heart or ruyi head, all
supported on superbly articulated ruyi feet. The form could
also be seen as a fusion of two traditions, that of archaic
bronzes and horn-shaped vessels.
For other jade vases of similar fine workmanship, sharing
the iconography of dragons and phoenix, emblematic of
the emperor and empress, see a large pale green jade vase
in the Palace Museum, Beijing, worked with a long chilong
depicted clambering over the rim of the vessel, illustrated in
Zhongguo yuqi quanji [Complete series on Chinese jades],
vol. 6, Hebei, 1991, pl. 148. See also a smaller Qianlong
reign-marked yellow jade vase with similar iconography,
illustrated ibid., pls 146-147. All three vases share the same
bold craftsmanship, with almost identical depiction of the
dragon’s muscular body, ferocious expression and poise,
suggesting they all emanate from the same workshop. For
another jade vessel attributed to the early 18th century,
similarly fusing the traditions of an archaic bronze and a
rhyton, see one decorated with a chilong clambering onto the
rim, sold in these rooms, 8th October 2014, lot 3671.
Sir Henry Philip Price, 1st Baronet (1877-1963) was an
English businessman and philanthropist who innovated
the tailoring business in the early 20th century. He used
his fortune to promote botany and was a key donor to
Kew Gardens, which named a garden after him. In 1938,
he bought Wahehurst Place, an Elizabethan mansion,
which he decorated under the guidance of his close friend
Frank Partridge. His collection was sold to great acclaim at
Sotheby’s London in November 2000.

94 SOTHEBY ’S IMPORTANT CHINESE ART