Page 175 - Sotheby's Speelman Collection Oct. 3, 2018

3446

A ROCK CRYSTAL ‘MYTHICAL

BEAST’ VASE AND COVER
QING DYNASTY, 18TH

CENTURY

with a flaring body resting on a galleried rim atop a short foot,
carved with a slightly concave band encircling the shoulder
below a waisted neck and galleried rim, the neck flanked by a
pair of loop handles suspending loose rings, interrupted by a
pair of mythical beasts carved in high relief with their heads
sharply turned backwards, the tall cover similarly decorated
with a pair of mythical beasts below a rounded finial, the
transparent material virtually free of inclusions, wood stand
28.5 cm, 11⅛ in.
HK$ 400,000-600,000
US$ 51,000-76,500

The present vase is notable for the flawless quality and almost
glass-like in appearance of the material which has been
skilfully accentuated by the contrasting high-relief mythical
beasts and undecorated body. Comparable rock crystal vases
attributed to the 18th century include one with a hexagonal
body flanked by four animal-mask handles individually
suspending a loose ring, from the estate of Dorothy H. Guider,
sold in our New York rooms, 26th November 1991, lot 373, and
again in these rooms, 8th April 2011, lot 3233.

清十八世紀
水晶浮雕瑞獸紋雙活環耳蓋瓶