Page 48 - Christies King St. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART

PROPERTY OF AN ENGLISH LADY OF TITLE

((other view))

88 As a popular motif in Chinese art, it is believed that drinking wine or tea
made with chrysanthemums can extend one’s life. The Eastern Jin poet Tao
A RARE AND FINELY CARVED WHITE JADE MARRIAGE BOWL Yuanming (372-427) is famous for eulogising the beauty of chrysanthemums
AND A CARVED ZITAN STAND in his poetry.
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
Apart from its magnifcent decoration, the present bowl is also impressive
清乾隆 白玉菊紋雙龍活環耳四如意足洗及紫檀木座 for the sheer size and quality of its natural stone. The interior and exterior of
the walls were deliberately left uncarved, skilfully highlighting the beauty of
The marriage bowl is superbly hollowed with tall, thick walls supported on the jade.
four fared ruyi-form feet. The centre of the interior is exquisitely carved in
high relief to depict a large open chrysanthemum fower, surrounded by six A similar large white jade marriage bowl with winged dragon handles and
smaller chrysanthemum blooms with leafy branches. The pair of handles ruyi-form feet was sold in Christies Hong Kong, 30 May 2012, lot 3959.
to the sides are fnely modelled as stylised, archaistic, winged dragons with
loose rings. The centre of the base is detailed with a further fower, enclosed Also see another similar marriage bowl in, Li Jiufang (Palace
within a network of interlocking ropes terminating in eight kui-dragon heads. Museum), Zhongguo Yuqi Quanji-6 Qing, Hebei, 1991, p. 215, no. 314.
The foliate zitan stand is fnely carved and reticulated with archaistic scrolls,
supported on six short ruyi-shaped feet. The top is covered with what appears 來源:英國貴族私人珍藏；於1930年代購自中國，由家族
to be imperial yellow silk. 珍藏至今

11 in. (28 cm.) wide across the handles; the stand 9º in. (23.5 cm.) wide 參考一件北京故宮博物院所藏的清中期和闐白玉蝠蓮紋
獸耳活環洗，載河北1991年出版，李久芳著《中國美術
£100,000-150,000 $160,000-230,000 分類全集 - 中國玉器全集 - 6 清》，215頁，第314號。
€140,000-200,000 另見香港佳士得於2012年5月30日拍賣的清乾隆白玉雙
龍活環耳洗，拍品3959號。
PROVENANCE:

Acquired in the 1930s in China, and thence by descent within the family.

Marriage bowls were often presented to couples as wedding gifts,
symbolising the joyful union of husband and wife. The fnely carved
decoration on this marriage bowl incorporates a multitude of auspicious
meanings. The archaistic winged dragons convey a sense of strength and
power, while the chrysanthemum blooms symbolise health and longevity.

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