Page 68 - Sotheby's Asian Art PARIS, December 10, 2019

ANCIENNE COLLECTION ARISTOCRATIQUE FRANÇAISE

This jade originates from Georges Knight’s
collection (1880-1933), a French diplomate who
entered this career in 1904. He was posted in
Bangkok as a consul in 1910 and was moved to the
consulate of Fuzhou, in China, as a second-class
consul in 1913. He spent the war in the French
embassy as commercial attaché for the Far East.
He becomes a member of the commission for the
review of custom duties in 1918. He was tasked with
running the Canton consulate. Later obtaining the
first-class consul role in 1919. He achieved the rank
of French general consul of China in 1924 and died
in New York in 1933, with only his sister as an heir.
It has stayed in the family until today. This jade
then belonged to his sister Anita Knight (1877-1968).
Then, by heritage, it was passed on to the marquess
Gustave Lannes de Montebello (1838-1907),
French ambassador in Constantinople and later in
Saint-Petersburg, who married Marie-Magdeleine Gustave Lannes de Montebello in his office, French Ambassador in Russia, 1898
Guillemin (1883-1930), aunt of Georges Knight.

59

ANCIENNE COLLECTION ARISTOCRATIQUE FRANÇAISE 清乾隆 青白玉雕雲龍趕珠紋圭璧
RARE DISQUE DE STYLE ARCHAÏSANT EN JADE
CELADON PALE, GUIBI 來源
Georges Knight（1880-1933） 先生舊藏
DYNASTIE QING, ÉPOQUE QIANLONG
Gustave Lannes（1838-1907） 蒙特貝羅侯爵舊藏 ，
en forme de sceptre gui combiné à un disque bi 任法國駐聖彼得堡大使
émergeant de flots tumultueux et de rochers en partie Jacques Aymé de La Chevrelière（1906-1976）
inférieure, le fin disque bi enchâssé dans des nuées 男爵夫人舊藏
en forme de ruyi sur les côtés, chaque face sculptée Daniel de Proyart（1925-1985） 伯爵舊藏
de quelques nuées en forme de ruyi épousant les 後於家族流傳至今
veines naturelles de la pierre, la partie sommitale du
gui entourée d’un puissant dragon sinueux et aux fines
écailles pourchassant la perle enflammée, l’intérieur du
bi ajouré d’un dragon sinueux, la pierre au doux poli et
d’une couleur blanche uniforme, socle sculpté de flots
tumultueux (2)
19,8 cm, 7¾ in.

PROVENANCE
Georges Knight (1880-1933).
Gustave Lannes, Marquis de Montebello (1838-1907).
Baroness Jacques Aymé de La Chevrelière, born Magdeleine
Lannes de Montebello (1906-1976).
Comte Daniel de Proyart (1925-1985).
Thence in the family by descent.
A very rare archaistic pale celadon jade disc, guibi, Qing
Dynasty, Qianlong period
40 000-60 000 €
349 000-525 000 HK$ 44 500-67 000 US$

66 ARTS D’ASIE