QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

Details

A RARE AND FINELY CARVED SPINACH-GREEN JADE ARCHAISTIC VESSEL AND COVER, TULU
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
The vessel is carved in the form of an archaic bronze colour container, tulu, the thin rectangular body with columnar corners rising from four compressed feet, flanked by a pair of phoenix handles, the rectangular sides carved in shallow relief with a band of interlaced kui dragons. The lower part of the body is decorated with Shou, Longevity, characters, each enclosed by archaistic scrolls. The cover is surmounted by an openwork dragon supported by four smaller chilong, the well hollowed vessel of a rich mottled spinach-green tone.
5 3/4 in. (14.5 cm.) across the handles

Provenance

The collection of Lady Wigram
Spink & Son Ltd, London, 30 January 1948
Edward John Cyril Vint (1894-1971)

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

This very distinctively shaped vessel carved in imitation of an archaic bronze form, was used to hold artist's materials. Coloured pigments were kept in the tubular compartments at each corner subdivided by wooden splats, while the central compartment held a saucer and water for mixing the colours. Similar examples in the Palace Museum, Beijing are illustrated in Zhongguo Yuqi Quanji, 6, Hebei, 1991, pls. 89 & 90. Another vessel of almost identical design but with loose rings is illustrated by R. Kleiner, Chinese Jades from the Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, Hong Kong, 1996, no. 74 and later sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 November 2007, lot 1548.

More from The Imperial Sale / Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art

View All