Page 28 - 2018 Hong Kong Important Chieese Art

fig. 1
Imperial white jade and cloisonné enamel ram-head teapot and cover,
Qing dynasty, Qianlong period
Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 3rd October 2017, lot 3613
圖一
清乾隆 御製白玉瓜棱式羊首掐絲琺瑯提樑茶壺
香港蘇富比2017年10月3日，編號3613

and New Mexico, she entertained the great and splendid from 1 Included in Qing Gaozong yuzhi shiwen quanji [Anthology of imperial Qianlong
American industrialists to European nobility. However, despite poems and text], Yuzhi shi san ji [Imperial poetry,vol. 3], juan 53, p. 2.
2 See Heavenly Crafted from Hindustan - A Special Exhibition of Exquisite South
her active social life, it was knowledge and learning that Asian Jades, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2017.
motivated her the most. She taught herself to read Latin and 3 One jin is equivalent to approx. 0.5 kg.
4 See Xu Lin, ‘An Appreciation of the Qianlong Emperor’s White Jade Ram-Head
ancient Greek, and had a passion for sketching costumes for
Teapot,’ in the notes on a Qianlong period imperial white jade and cloisonné
her own wardrobe, illustrating books for her children, creating enamel ram-head teapot and cover, sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 3rd October
jewellery designs and collecting everything from Biedermeier 2017, lot 3613.
furniture to Ashcan School art for her many homes. She had an 5 Sue Naquin, Peking: Temples and City Life, 1400-1900, Berkeley, 2000, p. 321.
See also Nie Chongzheng, ‘Qing Dynasty Court Painting,’ in Evelyn Rawsky and
eye for beautiful ornaments as seen from the many jewellery
Jessica Rawson eds, China: The Three Emperors, 1662-1795, London, 2005, p.
pieces she designed and wore herself. She was fascinated by 79; and Michael Sullivan, The Arts of China, Berkeley, 1999, p. 250.
the Far East and amassed a sizeable collection of Japanese 6 Mitchell Owens, ‘Desert Flower,’ The New York Times Magazine, 19th August
2001.
art. Her interest in Chinese art appears to have primarily
focused on white wares which included exceptional jades and
porcelain. The white jade and cloisonné enamel ram-head ewer
mentioned above was formerly in her collection, as was a pair
of white jade ‘chicken’ bowls sold at Christie’s Hong Kong,
28th November 2012, lot 2126, together with a white jade
bajixiang decorated alms bowl, lot 2127, and a white-glazed
relief-decorated Qianlong mark and period vase, lot 2129, also
from her collection.
Shortly before her death she wrote a letter to her son
describing her life as follows, ‘It was a journey worth every
ache and every pain. So many things were discovered. Life has
been marvellous, all the experiences, good and bad.’ This bowl
6
truly represents the beautiful and special in Millicent Rogers’
life.

26 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比