Page 148 - Bonhams Asian Art London November 5, 2020

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A RARE PALE GREEN AND RUSSET JADE CHILONG-HANDLED A RARE PALE GREEN JADE QUATRELOBED ‘LOTUS’ SHAPED
CUP BRUSH WASHER
Ming Dynasty 17th century
Expertly carved with deep rounded sides, supported on splayed foot, The vessel delicately carved with four fleshy lobed petals with everted
the sides with a pair of loop handles with entwining, writhing chilong, rim and pointed leaves, rising from four small shaped feet, the interior
the exterior of the cup carved in low-relief with archaistic taotie masks crisply carved with four sharp ridges designed to easily clean the
beneath a band of raised studs interspersed with roundels, recessed brush, the transluscent stone of pale green tone with dark grey-brown
base further carved with curling C-scrolls, the stone of pale green tone striations, huanghuali stand.
with light russet patches, huanghuali stand. 12cm (4 3/4in) long (2).
10.8cm (4 3/8in) wide (2).
£6,000 - 8,000
£8,000 - 12,000 CNY53,000 - 70,000
CNY70,000 - 110,000
十七世紀 青白玉雕倭角海棠式洗
明 青白玉帶皮螭龍柄盃
Provenance: a Swiss private collection
Provenance: a Swiss private collection
來源：瑞士私人收藏
來源：瑞士私人收藏

Brush washers were important accompaniments to any scholar’s desk.
The archaistic motif on the present lot reflects the scholarly trend of They were used to not only clean the brush but to also add water to
the ‘search for evidence’ (kaozheng 考證) movement beginning in the an inked brush for toning. The sharp edges in the interior of the brush
early 17th century. Although this movement originated in a renewed washer was not merely decorative but also utilitarian in allowing the
scholarly interest in ancient texts and inscriptions on archaic bronzes, brush to be cleaned against raised ridge and also ‘pointed’.
as literati sought a more empirical approach to understanding their
ancient heritage, it led to a greater fascination for decorative designs
adopted from ancient bronzes too.

Several jade cups with chilong handles and archaistic designs, Ming
dynasty, are illustrated in the Compendium of Collections in the Palace
Museum: Jade, 7, Beijing, 2011, nos.138, 148.

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