MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)

Details

AN UNUSUAL SMALL PALE BROWNISH-WHITE JADE ARCHAISTIC 'CHAMPION' VASE
MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)
In the form of two tubular pedestal cups carved around the sides with bands of archaistic designs above a band of lotus petals and made to look as if they partially rest atop the back of a recumbent beast, its head projecting at the bottom from one side as a support for a mythical bird standing with a ring suspended from its curved beak while its horns extend backwards onto the rim of the cups, on the reverse the beast's bifurcated tail supports a strap handle surmounted by an animal mask, the semi-translucent stone mottled throughout
3¼ in. (8.3 cm.) high

Provenance

Acquired in the 1960's.

Lot Essay

Compare the similar double-tube vase dated Ming dynasty (16th-17th century) in the British Museum illustrated by J. Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, p. 387, fig. 5. The author relates this cup to a Han dynasty jade cup with cylindrical body on a pedestal foot (fig. 3), p. 386, and also to a gilt-bronze stand in the shape of a bird suspending a ring standing atop a remcumbent beast and flanked by two attached pedestal trays that most likely held tube-shaped cups (fig. 4), p. 387. The British Museum example is also illustrated in the catalogue of the O.C.S. exhibtion, The Arts of the Sung Dynasty, London, 16 June-23 July 1960, pl. 91, no. 276.

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