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Lot Essay
This fine cup is an example of the hardstone carvings that were popular in the Mughal period, from the reign of the Emperor Akbar. It is thought that nephrite and related hardstones were introduced to the Mughals in the mid 16th century when a Khotanese jade merchant ‘visited the Emperor Akbar’s court and enabled the Mughals to indulge a taste for jade already acquired by their Timurid ancestors in Central Asia’ (Joseph M. Dye III, The Arts of India, Virginia, 2001, p.408).
A similar bowl, though simpler in decoration is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (M.76.2.2.; Stephen Markel (ed.), The World of Jade, Mumbai, 1992, no. 11, p.57). That is attributed to circa 1640-50. Ours however is more heavily worked, recalling the decoration on a gunpower flask in a private collection which is dated to the mid 17th century (Stuart Cary Welch, India. Art and Culture 1300-1900, exhibition catalogue, New York, 1985, no.173, p.262-63). Like ours it has a continuous pattern of floral sprays, there arranged in a swaying pattern but on ours arranged in a lattice. A comparable 18th century jade bowl of slightly larger size was sold at Sotheby's, London, 29 October 2025, lot 196. That bowl is plain on the exterior but like ours the bud terminals emerge as leaves running from the base of the bowl.
A similar bowl, though simpler in decoration is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (M.76.2.2.; Stephen Markel (ed.), The World of Jade, Mumbai, 1992, no. 11, p.57). That is attributed to circa 1640-50. Ours however is more heavily worked, recalling the decoration on a gunpower flask in a private collection which is dated to the mid 17th century (Stuart Cary Welch, India. Art and Culture 1300-1900, exhibition catalogue, New York, 1985, no.173, p.262-63). Like ours it has a continuous pattern of floral sprays, there arranged in a swaying pattern but on ours arranged in a lattice. A comparable 18th century jade bowl of slightly larger size was sold at Sotheby's, London, 29 October 2025, lot 196. That bowl is plain on the exterior but like ours the bud terminals emerge as leaves running from the base of the bowl.