Page 137 - Christies September 13 to 14th Fine Chinese Works of Art New York

The present vessel is very rare for its large
size and for its extensive use of the natural
inclusions in the stone to emphasize the
intricate design of the chilong amidst dense
cloud scroll. The deeply hollowed, high-sided
vessel can be compared to Ming-dynasty
rhyton vessels, although the naturalistic
shape of the present vessel, which follows
the curves of the original boulder, is highly
unusual. Compare, for example, a pale green
and brown jade rhyton dated to the Ming
dynasty, illustrated J. Rawson, Chinese Jade
from Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, p.
396, no. 29:8, where the author notes that
jade rhytons appear to have been introduced
to China during the Han dynasty.
A brown jade rhyton dated to the Song-Ming
dynasty, sold at Christie’s New York, 16-17
September 2010, lot 1106.

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