Page 255 - 2019 October Important Chinese Art Sotheby's Hong Kong

3664

A FINELY CARVED WHITE JADE ‘LION’ VASE 清乾隆 白玉雕瑞獅方觚花插
GROUP
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD 來源：
C.C. Tih Gallery，香港，1973年
worked in the form of a lion seated beside a facetted gu 美國私人收藏
vase, the beast with legs tucked underneath its body and tail
curled alongside its rear haunches, its head facing forward
detailed with bulging eyes beneath curled eyebrows, flaring
nostrils and a bushy mane, the vase carved in low relief with
stylised taotie masks between cicada lappets, the stone of a
translucent white tone, carved zitan stand
9.5 cm, 3¾ in.

PROVENANCE
C.C. Tih Gallery, Hong Kong, 1973.
An American private collection.

HK$ 300,000-500,000
US$ 38,300-64,000

Finely carved in the round in the form of a mythical animal
carrying a vase in the form of an archaic bronze zun vessel
on its back, this fine jade carving displays the Qianlong
Emperor’s penchant for innovative objects that were rooted
in archaism. The original zitan wood stand is skilfully carved
in openwork with lingzhi, and precisely fitted.
Compare a vessel modelled in the form of a mythological
animal standing on four feet and carrying a vase on its
back, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in
Masterworks of Chinese Jade in the National Palace Museum,
Taipei, 1973, pl. 29. See also a yellow jade vessel in the form
of a mythical beast supporting a guang vessel, sold in these
rooms, 3rd April 2018, lot 3636.
A white jade vase and cover in the form of a mythical beast
supporting a vase, originally in the collection of Walter L.
Behrens (1861-1913), was sold in these rooms, 5th October
2016, lot 3705. See also a larger vase of this type, with
Qianlong mark and of the period, included in the International
Exhibition of Chinese Art, Royal Academy of Arts, London,
1935, cat. no. 2831.

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