AN ARCHAISTIC BROWNISH-GRAY JADE RHYTON

Details

AN ARCHAISTIC BROWNISH-GRAY JADE RHYTON
YUAN/MING DYNASTY

The well-hollowed vessel carved in shallow relief with four bands of archaistic designs, including confronted C-scrolls, taotie masks separated by a taotie mask carved in high relief, bosses and mask-filled blades, all divided by rope-twist borders and positioned above a phoenix and a dragon confronted on a vertical, keyfret band, with a scrolling, bird-like tail rising off-center up one side from a pattern of intertwined swirls carved in the flat base, the stone of pale grayish-brown color suffused with darker brown veining--6¼in. (15.7cm.) high

Lot Essay

This vessel type with animal-related handle is similar in style and treatment to others dated Song to Ming Dynasty. Compare several included in the O.C.S. exhibition, Chinese Jade throughout the ages, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1975, Catalogue nos. 307-309 and two others in the O.C.S. exhibition, The Arts of the Sung Dynasty, London, 1960, illustrated in T.O.C.S., vol. 32, 1959-60, nos. 252 and 259