Page 196 - 2018 Hong Kong Important Chieese Art

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AN IMPERIAL GILT-BRONZE HILTED KNIFE 清十八世紀 御製鎏金銅鏨蓮紋柄翠玉鞘匕首
AND WHITE JADE SCABBARD
來源：
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
米莉森．羅傑斯（1902-1953年）收藏，後傳予其次子
the slender sharp blade fitted with a gilt-bronze hilt skilfully Arturo Peralta Ramos II（1928-2015年）
cast with a thin key-fret band below dense lotus scrolls and
terminating with a jade pommel incised with a further key-fret
band, the white jade scabbard finely worked in low relief with
dense floral blooms borne on leafy scrolls between two thin
key-fret bands, one side with a raised shou character below a
gilt-bronze band mounted to the opening
overall 35 cm, 13¾ in.

PROVENANCE
Collection of Millicent Rogers (1902-1953), thence by descent
to her second son Arturo Peralta Ramos II (1928-2015).
HK$ 600,000-800,000
US$ 76,500-102,000

It is very rare to find a white jadeite scabbard with a gilt-bronze
handle, which represents a fine example of the high standards
of artistic production achieved in the 18th century. Another
imperial gilt-bronze knife with a white jadeite scabbard, but
with a green jadeite pommel, was sold in our New York rooms,
23rd September 1997, lot 11, and again in these rooms, 8th
April 2009, lot 1704. Compare a knife of this type with a jade
handle and an intricately carved wood scabbard depicting a
flowering lotus scroll, from the collection of Dr Ip Yee, included
in the exhibition Bamboo and Wood Carvings of China and
the East, Spink and Son Ltd, London, 1979, cat. no. 277 and
sold in these rooms, 19th November 1984; another with jade
handle and diaper-carved bamboo scabbard, sold at Christie’s
New York, 21st September 2004, lot 76; and a pair of slightly
smaller knives with carved jade handles and scabbards, sold in
our London rooms, 7th June 1994, lot 138. A similar gold knife
with a white jade handle and inlaid gold sheath was included in
the exhibition Splendours of China’s Forbidden City, The Field
Museum, Chicago, 2004, cat. no. 248, and is pictured in situ,
cat. no. 250.
The use of personal knives at meals was a mark of Manchu
identity. Manchu men were supposed to cut their meat
themselves so as to not fall into the decadent Han Chinese
habit of eating their meat pre-cut. When eating sacrificial
pork, women were also expected to cut up their own meat.
Knives with other eating utensils formed part of the dowries
of princesses and even maidservants (see the exhibition
catalogue ibid., pp. 197-201).
This knife was formerly in the collection of Millicent Rogers
(1902-1953), a legendary socialite known for her intelligence
and beauty and was reputedly close with Madame Soong Mei-
ling (1897-2003). Millicent Rogers was the granddaughter of
Henry H. Rogers, who co-founded Standard Oil with John D.
Rockefeller and was a patron of the famous American writer
Mark Twain (1835-1910). Fluent in six languages, Millicent
translated Latin and Greek poetry. She was also gifted in
fashion and jewellery design. With her privileged upbringing
and artistic talents, Rogers was a connoisseur and collector
with a highly refined personal taste. A white jade ‘ram-head’
teapot originally in her collection was sold in these rooms, 3rd
October 2017, lot 3013.

194 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比