Page 154 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art London Nov. 2019

118 Y
A SPINACH-GREEN JADE ‘CHRYSANTHEMUM’ VASE
AND COVER
18th Century
Deftly carved in relief around the entire body of the flattened vase with
scrolling chrysanthemums, the tall tapering neck flanked by a pair of
further chrysanthemum openwork handles, the domed cover similarly
carved and surmounted by a large chrysanthemum-flower finial, all
supported on a short spreading foot, the stone of dark-green tone with
black inclusions, openwork stand.
33.7cm (13 1/4in) high. (3).

£30,000 - 40,000
CNY270,000 - 350,000

十八世紀 碧玉菊紋雙耳蓋瓶

Provenance: Curi collection, South America, by repute

來源：傳為南美Curi收藏
Image courtesy of the Seattle Art Museum

The present lot is delicately carved and detailed with elegant and Chrysanthemums have long been closely associated with Autumn and
crisply- carved chrysanthemum. The pair to this vase and cover, of the hermetic poet Tao Qian (365-427 AD). Living during a turbulent
the same size and design, is illustrated by J.C.Y.Watt, Chinese Jades period in China, he retired in midlife to a small estate to live out his
from the Collection of the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, 1989, p.125, days in rustic obscurity, drinking wine and writing poetry. Private
no.109. The author notes that the style ‘owes something to Mughal and quiet as his life was, his reputation grew steadily after his death,
influence’. particularly for his association with chrysanthemums, which he grew
in a small patch by the eastern fence of his retirement estate. Since
Mughal jade vessels from India were renowned for their exceptional then, the chrysanthemum has come to symbolise the literatus ideal of
carving and naturalistic motifs. The Qianlong emperor greatly admired tranquil solitude in one’s Autumn years. The chrysanthemum would
the fine quality of the Mughal jade workmanship, and wrote poems also have been associated with the’Double Nine’ festival, also known
praising the Mughal pieces in his collection, describing them as ‘thin as the ‘chrysanthemum’ festival, when on the ninth day of the ninth
as paper’. Chinese carvers thereafter strove to imitate the Mughal month it is traditional to drink chrysanthemum wine.
style, combining it with Chinese elements and symbolism such as
the chrysanthemum. Compare with a related spinach green jade vase and cover, Qing
dynasty, with similarly carved floral handles, but with a design
of lotus, illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace
Museum: Jade, vol.10. Beijing, 2011, p.71, no.43. For another
related jade vase and cover with Mughal style flowers, Qianlong, see
S.C.Nott, Chinese Jade throughout the Ages, London, 1936, pl.CVIII.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
152 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.