Page 18 - Christies King St. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART

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56 The present jade table screen is an exceptional example of its type,
demonstrating superb quality of carving and a very rare choice of subject
A LARGE CELADON JADE TABLE SCREEN matter. It is interesting to note the type of ship, which appears to be
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795) infuenced by European or Middle-Eastern design, and in some cases bears
similarity to Portuguese ships depicted on Japanese renditions of the frst
清乾隆 青玉八蠻進寶圖插屏 contact with foreign envoys. It is possible that the tribute bearers hail from
the near or middle east, as there are also similarities evident with Chinese
The screen is of rectangular shape and is carved to one side with a continuous depictions of the Sogdians. The fact that one tribute bearer at the head of
scene depicting a procession of foreign tribute bearers, one carrying a hawk the procession holds a hawk or falcon on a perch may also indicate either
and another leading a Buddhist lion as he temptingly holds a brocade ball in Mongolia or the Near and Middle East as their origin, as falconry was a
his raised left hand. They are all traversing a steep, mountainous path winding cherished skill honed in these regions. Other tribute bearers hold lotus
beside pine trees leading to the city beneath clouds. The reverse is carved with fowers, elixir bottles, books, and bowls of fruit. Perhaps the most unusual is
a foreign ship and its crew sailing amidst crashing waves. The stone is of an the tribute bearer leading a Buddhist lion on a leash as he beckons it with a
even celadon tone with some minor russet inclusions. brocade ball held aloft in his left hand.

11¡ in. (29 cm.) high, wood stand The size of the procession, in addition to both the type of tribute and
impressive vessel used to carry the entourage, suggests that this would
£40,000-60,000 $61,000-91,000 have been an envoy of great importance, perhaps sent to pay tribute to the
€55,000-82,000 emperor himself, and was thus commemorated on the present jade screen.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby’s London, 24 November 1964, lot 150.
From a private English collection, amassed in the 1960s.

來源:英國私人珍藏；1964年11月24日於倫敦蘇富比拍
賣， 拍品第150號

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