THE BI HAN DYNASTY (206 BC-AD 220), THE SCREEN 18TH CENTURY

Details

AN ARCHAIC JADE BI-INSET ZITAN TABLE SCREEN
THE BI HAN DYNASTY (206 BC-AD 220), THE SCREEN 18TH CENTURY
The mottled green and brown bi carved on both sides with comma spirals between plain borders, set within the fitted zitan screen and secured by a circular plug incised with two chi dragons confronted around a pearl above a Daoist trigram, the front panel incised with archaistic motifs and stylized wave patterns above a panel well carved with fine ruyi heads and 'shoe' feet, the back panel with effaced inscription
The jade 7¼ in. (18.4 cm.) diam., the screen 13 in. (33 cm.) high, 9 11/16 in. (24.6 cm.) wide, 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm.) deep

Provenance

Acquired in Hong Kong circa 1967.

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

A similar green jade bi of slightly smaller size (16.4 cm. diam.), also carved with a wide field of comma spirals between plain borders and dated to the Han dynasty, is illustrated in A Catalogue of the National Palace Museum's Special Exhibition of Circular Jade, Taipei, 1995, no. 78. See, also, the imperial zitan table screen carved with similar archaistic patterns and inset with an Eastern Han dynasty bi sold at Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 8 April 2007, lot 603. The reverse of the screen is carved with a poetic inscription composed by the Qianlong Emperor and a date corresponding to 1770.

More from Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art Including Jades from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

View All