Page 215 - Sotheby's Speelman Collection Oct. 3, 2018

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A PAIR OF CELADON JADE 清十八世紀

‘MAGNOLIA’ CUPS 青白玉玉蘭花盃一對
QING DYNASTY, 18TH

CENTURY

each with flaring sides elegantly rendered in the form of a
magnolia bloom with overlapping petals, the lower section
encircled with a ring of smaller petals, all supported on
an openwork base depicted as a gnarled branch bearing
attendant buds, the even celadon stone subtly accentuated
with russet inclusions to one cup’s rim
9.6 cm, 3¾ in.

HK$ 300,000-500,000
US$ 38,300-64,000
These finely worked jade cups carry a layered symbolism in
the choice of material and subject matter. The white magnolia
(yulan) is a popular emblem of purity and the use of jade (yu)
allows this conception to be executed harmoniously.

A related white jade ‘magnolia’ group, from the Concordia
House collection, was sold in our New York rooms, 19th March
2007, lot 36. See also a Kangxi period white jade cup similarly
worked in the form of a magnolia blossom in the Royal Ontario
Museum, accession no. 992.23.1.2.