A DARK GREEN JADE INCENSE BURNER AND COVER

Property from the Estate of Marc Haas

Details

A DARK GREEN JADE INCENSE BURNER AND COVER
QIANLONG

Well carved in imitation of an archaic prototype, of rectangular form with columnar corners, the sides carved in low relief with the overlapping bodies of undulating serpents interrupted at the ends by a pair of loop handles surmounted by dragon heads and suspending loose rings, the lower body carved on two sides with a shou character in a ruyi reserve flanked by the leiwen-filled lappets at the top of each leg, the cover surmounted by a squatting dragon elevated above its spiralling tail, each of its feet placed atop the edge of one of the coiled dragon medallions capping the corners, the semi-translucent stone of rich, spinach-green tone (minor rim chips)
5 5/8in. (14.2cm.) across handles

Provenance

Sir John Buchanan-Jardine, Bt., London

Literature

International Exhibition of Chinese Art, London, Royal Academy of Arts, 1935, no. 2809
Stanley Charles Nott, Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages, New York, 1937, pl. CXIII (top)

Exhibited

London, Royal Academy of Arts, International Exhibition of Chinese Art, 1935-36, no. 2809

Lot Essay

Jade vessels of this type are copying archaic vessels, usually made of bronze, used to hold artist's materials; colored pigments were kept in stoppered, tubular compartments at each corner, while the central comparment held a saucer and water for mixing the colors. These archaic vessels are discussed by Cheng Te Kun, in 'The T'u-Lu Colour-Container of the Shang-Chou Period', B.M.F.E.A., No. 37, 1965, p. 239-249, pls. 1-6, where examples in jade, marble and pottery, as well as bronze, are illustrated

Two Qing dynasty jade incense burners of this type are in the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, illustrated by d'Argencé, Chinese Jades in the Avery Brundage Collection, 1977, pl. LV