AN UNUSUAL SMALL WHITE JADE WATERPOT

Details

AN UNUSUAL SMALL WHITE JADE WATERPOT
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

The small vessel of circular section, formed as a well or a fish bowl, around which three boys gather standing on a rocky ledge and clinging to the rim to peek into the bowl, with a squirrel perched on rockwork, the stone of translucent white tone
3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) high

Literature

Robert Kleiner, Chinese Jades from the Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, Hong Kong, 1996, no. 155

Exhibited

Christie's New York, 13-26 March 2001
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, August 2003 - December 2004

Lot Essay

The purpose of this vessel is not clear. It may have been used as a waterpot or a candle-holder, or some other container. As a waterpot, a small metal spoon would be placed in the vessel for scooping out small amounts of water to mix with ground ink on a palette.

This vessel, surrounded by small figures of boys, is closely related to the bowls and cups with similar composition of boys clinging to the rims of the vessel, usually forming the handles; see Jadeware (III), The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1995, pls. 163, 164, 202 and 204.

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