Page 184 - September 20 2021 Chinese Works of Art Bonhams NYC

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION
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A SEMI-TRANSCLUCENT APPLE-GREEN AND RUSSET The Forbes and Perkins families of Boston were famously active in
JADEITE BRUSH-WASHER the original China Trade. Robert Bennet Forbes (1804-1889) was
Qianlong mark, possibly 18th century a personal friend of Howqua (1769-1843) The Emperor appointed
Finely carved in openwork with pine tree branches and leaves and Howqua to oversee China’s trading with Europeans. It is well-
plum blossom encircling the body, with a Qianlong nianzhi four- documented that Forbes and Howqua were close personal friends for
character mark on the slightly recessed base, with trace of gilt, the the five years that he lived in Hong Kong at the end of Howqua’s life
stone of uneven green and russet tone with some inclusions and (The Robert Bennett Forbes House, formally the China Trade Museum
cloudy areas. in Milton, Massachusetts, hold records of their business relationship).
6in (15cm) long
The family story goes that this brush-washer was given by Howqua to
$15,000 - 20,000 Forbes as a token of their friendship. There were apparently many gifts
back and forth.
或為十八世紀 翠玉雕松梅紋水丞 《乾隆年製》款
The brush-washer itself is a tour-de-force of jadeite carving. Given that
Provenance: most jadeite is usually dated to the mid to late nineteenth century, it
Robert Bennet Forbes (by repute) and thence by Perkins Family would be easy to dismiss this as a late example. However, if this were
descent carved from a piece of white nephrite, it might be easily placed in the
eighteenth century on quality of carving alone. It really is a cut above
來源： the normal output of late Qing jade production. The Qianlong seal
據藏家，Robert Bennet Forbes珍藏，後由Perkins家族珍藏 mark engraved to the base, which may be a later addition, certainly
fits stylistically with the high quality of the carving.

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