Page 178 - Fine Chinese Art Bonhams London May 2018

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A WHITE AND RUSSET JADE CARVING A related jade carving of boy and lotus, Provenance: Dent Collection
OF A BOY CATCHING CRICKETS Qianlong, is illustrated by S.Howard Hansford, A European private collection, acquired from
Qing Dynasty Jade: Essence of Hills and Streams, London, Spink & Son Ltd., London, on 19 April 1956,
Skilfully carved crouching on an elongated 1969, p.162. and thence by descent
lotus leaf with foliate edges clambered by
a cricket, the boy dressed in long robe and Compare also with a related, but smaller, 來源： Dent舊藏
grasping a basket with his left hand, perched jade carving of boys and lotus, Qianlong, 歐洲私人收藏，於1956年4月19日購自倫敦古
by a further cricket on his back, the underside which was sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 董商Spink & Son Ltd.；並由後人保存迄今
detailed with veins highlighted by russet 1 December 2016, lot 1.
inclusions, the translucent stone of an even The present lot is superbly carved
pale tone, velvet box. 9cm (3 1/2in) long. (2). THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN demonstrating the craftsmanship achieved in
士紳藏品 the jade ateliers during the height of the Qing
£18,000 - 22,000 dynasty. ‘Hindustani’ jades, as they were called
CNY160,000 - 200,000 168 by the Qianlong emperor, were highly prized
A RARE MUGHAL-STYLE SPINACH- and therefore influenced Chinese jade carvings.
清 白玉帶皮童子戲蛐把件 GREEN JADE ‘CHRYSANTHEMUM’ Bowls decorated with auspicious symbols
MARRIAGE BOWL expressing wishes relating to marital bliss and
The motif in jade of boys catching crickets Qianlong blessing were traditional gifts bestowed at
with a basket is extremely rare, although Superbly carved as a chrysanthemum Imperial celebrations. Chrysanthemums were
boys and lotus are more commonly seen. flowerhead, the elegantly-rounded sides with emblematic of longevity and fertility, because of
Carvings of boys and lotus created the rebus finely-curved petals radiating from the centre their health-giving properties and multitude of
for the blessing of continuously having sons, pistil, raising to an everted and lipped rim, their petals.
as lotus (lian 蓮) is a pun for ‘continuous’ (lian flanked by a pair of loose-ring handles in the
連), while the boy implies the wish for a son. form of larger and smaller chrysanthemum A similar spinach-green jade bowl, carved with
The addition of crickets, which the boy is blossoms issuing from foliage, the low feet designs of chrysanthemums, 18th century, is
humorously trying to catch with his basket in similarly carved as radiating petals below a in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco,
the present lot, reflects not only the individual band of acanthus leaves around the exterior, illustrated by R.Y.L d’Argencé, Chinese Jades
freedom of the master carver, but also the wood stand. 24.5cm (9 5/8in) wide (2). in the Avery Brundage Collection, 1972,
popular pastime of catching and keeping p.138, pl.LXII.
crickets as pets to either sing or fight. £10,000 - 15,000
CNY89,000 - 130,000
清乾隆 痕都斯坦式碧玉菊瓣洗

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
170 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.