Page 10 - March 23, 2022 Sotheby's NYC Fine Chinese Works of Art

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A RARE YELLOW JADE ARCHAISTIC VASE 清乾隆 黄玉仿古龍首觥
(GUANG)
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD 來源
Height 6⅜ in., 16.1 cm 托馬斯•巴羅•沃克 (1840-1928) 收藏
托馬斯•巴羅•沃克基金會，明尼阿波利斯
PROVENANCE 香港佳士得1989年1月17日，編號928
Collection of T.B. Walker (1840-1928). William H. 及 Sophia H. (1912-2001) Harrison 伉儷收藏
The T.B. Walker Foundation, Minneapolis. 2000年贈予Speed藝術博物館，路易斯維爾市 (館藏編
Christie’s Hong Kong, 17th January 1989, lot 928. 號2000.13.7)
Collection of William H. and Sophia H. (1912-2001) Harrison.
Gifted to the Speed Art Museum, Louisville, in 2000 (acc. no. 出版
2000.13.7). 《Jades of the T.B. Walker Collection at the Walker Art
Center》，沃克藝術中心，明尼阿波利斯，1952年，
LITERATURE 頁60
Jades of the T.B. Walker Collection at the Walker Art Center,
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, 1952, p. 60.
$ 60,000-80,000

This charming vessel is notable for its archaistic form and the the dramatist Gao Lian (fl. 1573-81) noted that, ‘Of all jade
use of the highly esteemed yellow jade material. Exquisitely materials, yellow stones with a mellow tone are the best and
worked after the archaic bronze wine vessel guang, a form mutton-white ones come second’.
which first appeared around the Shang dynasty (c. 1600- Guang is a rare shape among ancient bronze vessels and it is
1046 BC), the present piece embodies the Qing (1644-1911) even rarer to find archaistic jade vessels after this form. See a
imperial taste for antiquity. Because of the rarity of the yellow related guang with russet inclusions preserved in the Palace
stone, brownish colorings were often worked into a piece, Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Li Jiu-fang, Chinese Jades
as seen on the present lot, to show the carver’s respect throughout the Ages – Connoisseurship of Chinese Jades, vol.
for the precious material. Since the Ming dynasty, yellow 11: Qing Dynasty, Chicago and San Francisco, 1996, pl. 45.
jade was recognized by scholars and connoisseurs as one Compare also a larger yellow jade vase worked after a guang
of the most valued variations of nephrite. In his miscellany vessel, resting atop a recumbent mythical beast, sold in our
Yanxian Qingshang [Refined Enjoyment of Elegant Leisure], Hong Kong rooms, 3rd April 2018, lot 3636.

The present lot illustrated in Jades of the T.B.
Walker Collection at the Walker Art Center,
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, 1952, p. 60.
本拍品錄於《Jades of the T.B. Walker Collection at
the Walker Art Center》，沃克藝術中心，明尼阿波
利斯，1952年，頁60

16 SOTHEBY’S COMPLETE CATALOGUING AVAILABLE AT SOTHEBYS.COM/N10917 PROPERTY SOLD TO BENEFIT THE ACQUISITION FUND OF THE SPEED ART MUSEUM 17