Page 190 - CHRISTIE'S Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art 09/14 - 15 / 17

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE WEST COAST COLLECTION

~1025

AN IMPORTANT IMPERIAL SPINACH-GREEN JADE BOOK SET
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

The book comprises eight rectangular plaques, beginning with the cover incised and painted in two
tones of gilt with the nine-character title, yu zhi shi quan lao ren zhi bao shuo between a pair of descending
dragons above waves, the reverse and continuing twelve sides with inscriptions written in lishu (clerical
script), recording the entire text of the Qianlong Emperor’s essay Shiquan laoren zhibao shuo (Disquisition
on the Seal of an Old Man of Perfect Completion). The back of the last plaque is further decorated with a
front-faced dragon chasing a faming pearl above crested waves and amidst cloud swirls.

4¡ x 7º in. (11.2 x 18.3 cm.), each plaque, huali box (8)
$200,000-300,000

PROVENANCE

Gump’s Inc., San Francisco, 18 June 1955.
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. William D. Gibbs, and thence by descent within the family.

清乾隆 御製和闐碧玉描金「御製十全老人之寳說」冊

Fig. 1. Imperial spinach-green jade seal, Shiquan laoren zhibao (Seal of an Old Man of Perfect Completion), inscribed on
four sides with the shiquan laoren zhibao shuo (Disquisition on the Seal of an Old Man of Perfect Completion), Qianlong
period (1736-1795). Courtesy of the Palace Museum, Beijing. Photograph by 趙山 Zhao Shan.

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