Page 42 - Fine Chinese Works of Art Bonhams Hong Kong May 2018

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A RARE WHITE JADE ‘PARROT’ PEACH-SHAPED CUP 白玉玉質，部分有灰點,杯呈桃形，鏤雕枝葉為柄，部分枝葉纏繞伸展
Ming Dynasty 於杯底，以一朵桃花為底足。杯柄鏤雕壽桃及鳳鳥。整器以桃為形，
Finely carved and well hollowed as a half peach, borne on a five-petal 以枝幹為柄，再加以鏤雕壽桃及鳳鳥，構思巧妙，工藝精湛，頗有明
flowerhead issuing from fruiting and flowering tendrils skilfully carved 代文人風節。
in openwork and forming the handle, with a large parrot perched
next to two peaches, its well-incised wings extended, the stone of an 台北國立故宮博物院藏有一件明十五/十六世紀的青白玉雕鳳鳥桃形
attractive warm white tone finished with a lustrous soft polish. 杯（故玉518），設計構思和形制皆與此杯類似，見Tsao Huei-chung
10.8cm (4 1/4in) long (2). 著，《Jade: From Emperors to Art Deco》，巴黎，2017年，圖71。
另見香港敏求精舍喜聞過齋藏一件明代鳳鳥紋桃形杯，著錄於《博古
HK$450,000 - 600,000 存珍：敏求精舍金禧紀年展》，香港，2010年，圖205；另見Sydney
US$57,000 - 76,000 L. Moss曾經手過一例，著錄於《Emperor, Scholar, Artisan, Monk: The
Creative Personality in Chinese Works of Art》，香港，1984年，圖
94。
明 白玉鳳鳥紋桃形杯

Compare a similar pale green and russet jade peach-shaped cup
carved with parrot and peach, Ming dynasty, 15th/16th century, from
the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated by Tsao Huei-chung,
Jade: From Emperors to Art Deco, Paris, 2017, no.71. See also
another similar white and russet jade cup, Ming dynasty, from the
Xiwenguo Zhai Collection, illustrated in The Grandeur of Chinese Art
Treasures: Min Chiu Society Golden Jubilee Exhibition, Hong Kong,
2010, no.205; and for a third example see Sydney L. Moss Ltd.,
Emperor, Scholar, Artisan, Monk: The Creative Personality in Chinese
Works of Art, Hong Kong, 1984, no.94.

The present cup is remarkable for the fine quality of the jade stone and
skillful craftsmanship evident in the refined carving of the feathers and
subtle form of the peach-shaped cup. The carving draws its inspiration
from nature whether in the form of the peach fruit, flowers, tendrils, or
the parrot. This exemplifies the view of literati during the Ming dynasty,
who saw nature as the highest expression of intellectual and moral
qualities, and therefore sought to surround themselves in their daily life
with objects expressing the idealised quest for spirituality.
Image courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei
台北國立故宮博物院藏

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