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Lot Essay
Although historical records indicate jade books were made as early as the Tang dynasty, it appears that the earliest surviving ones date from the mid-17th century. Similar jade books include one with text by the Qianlong emperor, formerly in the collection of Heber R. Bishop, illustrated in The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, Summer 1997, pp. 28-9; one produced for the eightieth birthday of Qianlong's mother, illustrated in Daily Life in the Forbidden City, Hong Kong, 1985, p. 27, no. 19; one regarding the Hall of Remembering Kindness in the Yuanmingyuan, illustrated in Emperor and Consort Seals of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Beijing, no, 172; and a group of fifteen jade books of various dates, discussed in W. Watson and J.L. Mish, Chinese Jade Books in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, 1963, one volume illustrated, pl. 1.
Jade books sold at auction include one with text by Prince Yong Xuan (1711-1799), The Imperial Sale, Yuanmingyuan, Christie's, Hong Kong, 30 April 2000, lot 571; an Imperial spinach-green jade book, Christie's, Hong Kong, 5 November 1997, lot 1075; and a set with a zitan fitted box, Christie's, Hong Kong, 26 April 1998, lot 530.
Jade books sold at auction include one with text by Prince Yong Xuan (1711-1799), The Imperial Sale, Yuanmingyuan, Christie's, Hong Kong, 30 April 2000, lot 571; an Imperial spinach-green jade book, Christie's, Hong Kong, 5 November 1997, lot 1075; and a set with a zitan fitted box, Christie's, Hong Kong, 26 April 1998, lot 530.