Page 38 - Nov. 27 2019 Christie's Hong Kong Desk Objects

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
2807
A RARE ROCK CRYSTAL EAR CUP with a similar example from the collection of G.L. Winthrop, are dated
to the Late Eastern Zhou period, but are most probably Western Han;
HAN DYNASTY (206 BC-AD 220)
both are illustrated by Salmony, Carved Jade of Ancient China, London,
The oval rounded cup is carved with a pair of handles to the sides. 1982, pl. LVI. A jade ear cup dated to the late Spring and Autumn
The translucent rock crystal is suffused with russet streaks. Period from the Yangdetang Collection, illustrated by Teng Shu-p’ing
in Collectors’ Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades, Taipei, 1999, pl. 215
4º in. (10.8 cm.), box
and included in the National Palace Museum exhibition Collectors’
HK$200,000-300,000 US$26,000-38,000 Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades, Taipei, 1999, Catalogue, pl. 215,
was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29 November 2017, lot 2779. A
yellowish-green jade Han dynasty ear cup, formerly in the Cunliffe
PROVENANCE
Collection and subsequently in the collection of Sir Harry and Lady
Acquired in Hong Kong, 10 May 1998
Garner was included in the exhibition Chinese Jade Throughout the
The ear cup first appeared in lacquer form during the late Spring and Ages and is illustrated in Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society,
Autumn period (5th century BC), with rectangular handles or 'ears'. 1973-1975, no. 174.
An example dated to the Warring States period (475-221 BC) was
included in the Hong Kong Oriental Ceramics Society exhibition 2000 Compare this rock crystal cup to an example illustrated by Roger Chow
Years of Chinese Lacquer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993, in Sparkling Splendours: The Art of Ancient Chinese Carvings on Rock
Catalogue, no. 2. By the mid-Warring States period the 'crescent moon' Crystal and Agate, the Taoshi Zhai Collection, Hong Kong, 2000, no.
shaped handles were adopted replacing the earlier form. Two such 220, p. 209.
vessels dated to the Western Han dynasty are illustrated, op. cit. , nos. 3
and 4. A third exquisite lacquer example from the Tombs of the Family
of the Marquis of Dai, in the Hunan Provincial Museum, dated to the ᮘ ᥆ᓪ⠈」↛
Western Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 9), is illustrated by Thorp, Son of
Heaven, Imperial Arts of China, Seattle, 1989, no. 69. Crescent moon ear ϝᬝ
cups continued to be made in metal as late as the Tang dynasty and
glass examples are known. A jade example from the collection of Freer ჺ ᝲ ᚚ㐟ᙻ㲞ᳰ
Gallery of Art, thought to have been excavated at Luoyang, together

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