A MAGNIFICENT WHITE JADE PEACH-FORM WATER-COUPE

Details

A MAGNIFICENT WHITE JADE PEACH-FORM WATER-COUPE
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

Exquisitely carved in the form of an asymmetrical peach, the rounded walls of the vessel gently elongated to one side forming a raised spout-like curvature surmounted by two well carved bats, their outspread curling wings stretching out around the sides of the bowl, a loose ring handle suspended beneath them, three further bats forming the wufu encirling the rim above rounded peach leaves rising up from the base, the stone of a highly polished even creamy white tone
4 7/8 in. (12.5 cm.) wide, stand

Literature

Robert Kleiner, Chinese Jades from the Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, Hong Kong, 1996, no. 93

Exhibited

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

Lot Essay

The present bowl is notable for its unusual divergence from 18th century conventions of symmetry. Rather than being circular and having twin opposing handles, the vessel has been carved into a more original yet graceful and well-proportioned form.

Compare the present bowl with two more conventionally shaped peach and bat bowls with very similar carving, one from the Hartman Collection illustrated by R. Kleiner, op. cit., no. 92 and another sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 18 May 1988, lot 543.

The imagery of the design is highly auspicious, as the peach is traditionally symbolic of immortality whilst the five bats, wufu are a homonym for the Five Blessings (old age, wealth, health, love of virtue and peaceful death).

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