Page 171 - Sothebys Important Chinese Art April 3 2018

Finely carved in the round in the form of an animal carrying a Yellow jade vessels of this impressive size are extremely
ewer on its back, this charming piece displays the Qianlong rare due to the rarity of such large boulders of even tone and
Emperor’s penchant for innovative objects that were rooted in quality. Since the Ming dynasty yellow jade was recognised
archaism. Vessels of this type are often unique and no other by scholars and connoisseurs as one of the most valued
closely related example appears to have been published. variations of nephrite. In his miscellany Yanxian Qingshang
Compare a vessel modelled in the form of a mythological [Refined Enjoyment of Elegant Leisure], the dramatist Gao
animal standing on four feet and carrying a vase on its back, in Lian (fl. 1573-1581) noted, “Of all jade materials, yellow stones
the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Masterworks with a mellow tone are the best and mutton-white ones come
of Chinese Jade in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1973, second”. Because of its rarity, the brownish skin was often
pl. 29; and one modelled with the animal crouching and worked into the piece, as seen on the front legs of the mythical
turning its head backwords, offered at Christie’s London, 1st creature, to increase its overall size and show the carver’s
December 1997, lot 23. respect for the rare and valuable material.

IMPORTANT CHINESE ART 169