A SMALL PIERCED YELLOW JADE CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER
Lot 1223

A SMALL PIERCED YELLOW JADE CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER

18TH CENTURY

Closed22 March 2012

Price Realised

USD 15,000

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A SMALL PIERCED YELLOW JADE CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER
18TH CENTURY
The top pierced in the center and carved in openwork with a formalized flower pattern, the sides with an openwork frieze of leafy flower scroll; together with a fitted metal holder with tall cylindrical collar and flat base pierced in the center and engraved with a scrolling lotus stem on a ring matte ground, and a gilt-metal circular stand raised on three kneeling figure supports
1 11/16 in. (4.3 cm.) diam., 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) high overall

Gerard Hawthorn Ltd., London, 2003.

Specialist note

This unusual jade and metal case might have been used to hold an archer's thumb ring or, as the jade cover is reticulated, to hold potpourri. As the cover and bottom of the brass section are pierced in the center it is likely that it would have been suspended, perhaps from a gentleman's belt or from a hat stand, or placed inside a hat box.
Two examples of cylindrical cases of this type, described as archer's thumb ring cases and dated to the 18th century, have been published by Gerard Hawthorn Ltd, London. One of jade with inscribed sides, which is pierced on top, is illustrated in Oriental Works of Art, June 2002, no. 59; the other of ivory with pierced top and with openwork sides is illustrated in Oriental Works of Art, London, June 2004, no. 47, where it can be seen to be suspended from a silk cord.