A PALE CELADON JADE ARCHAISTIC VESSEL AND COVER, TULU

QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

Details

A PALE CELADON JADE ARCHAISTIC VESSEL AND COVER, TULU
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
The vessel is finely carved in rectangular form with four columnar corners rising from waisted feet. There is a shou character to each side of the exterior below a band of interlocking serpents. There is a handle to either side of the body carved in the form of mythical beast heads, each with loose rings. The cover bears a dragon coil finial with four further chilong coils to each corner. The stone is of an even pale tone.
5.1/8 in. (13 cm.) high, carved wood stand

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Lot Essay

In its original archaic bronze form, the tulu was used as a container for artist's materials. The four columnar corners each held a wooden compartment containing pigments, while the central area would be used for holding water to mix colours and wash the brush. For an analysis of the tulu form in a variety of media, see Cheng Te Kun, 'The T'u-Lu Colour-Container of the Shang-Chou Period', B.M.F.E.A., no. 37, 1965, p. 239-249, pl. 1-6.
See a comparable Qing dynasty tulu illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, p. 190, pl. 156.
Also compare to a similar tulu from the Leonard Gow collection, which was sold at Christie's London, 15 May 2012, lot 198.

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