INCISED DA QING QIANLONG FANGGU SIX-CHARACTER MARKS AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-95)

Details

A PAIR OF IMPERIAL SPINACH JADE ARCHAISTIC VASES, ZUN
Incised Da Qing Qianlong Fanggu six-character marks and of the period (1736-95)
Each carved around the exterior in medium and shallow relief with three registers of decoration, the spreading base and the central section with two taotie masks, the flaring neck with upright cicada panels enclosing dissolved taotie, all on a finely incised leiwen ground divided by four vertical flanges extending beyond the broad rim, the dark green semi-translucent stone with darker and paler spinach-green inclusions, old restoration to one base and flange tip
10 5/8 in. (27 cm.) high (2)

Special notice

This lot will be subject to VAT at the rate of 17.5% on the buyer's premium

Lot Essay

One of a pair of comparable vases but of hexafoil lobed section is illustrated by Stanley Nott, Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages, Tokyo, 1962, pl.CXIV. Compare also the large grey gu-shaped vases illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, vol.3, Jade Carving, pp.164, fig.132 and p.165, fig.133. For similar engraved Qianlong Fanggu marks, see idem., figs. 147, 150,151,153.

Spinach jade to imitate archaic bronzes is obviously the best choice for a convincing archaism. The present examples follow an archaic prototype quite accurately both in shape and the decorative motifs used. A Late Shang/Early Western Zhou Dynasty bronze original was sold in these rooms, 12 November 2002, lot 4, with similar extending flanges around the rim.

More from Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, including Export Art

View All