QING DYNASTY, 18TH/19TH CENTURY

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.