CHINA, QING DYNASTY, 18TH-19TH CENTURY

Details

A LARGE CREAMY GREYISH WHITE AND PALE BROWN JADE ARCHAISTIC TRIPOD VESSEL, JIA
CHINA, QING DYNASTY, 18TH-19TH CENTURY
The shape based on that of Shang dynasty bronze prototypes, carved on the sides of the body with taotie masks centered on and separated by notched flanges and raised on three tall blade-form legs carved with further taotie masks, the handle on one side surmounted by an animal head and the caps of the posts carved with comma spirals, the stone with areas of pale brownish color
11 in. (27.9 cm.) high

Provenance

Rare Art, Inc., New York, 1979.
The Irving Collection, no. 330.

Literature

Jade as Sculpture, Minnesota Museum of Art, Minnesota, 1975, no. 82.

Exhibited

Minnesota Museum of Art and Indianapolis Museum of Art, Rare Art Jade Exhibition, 1975.

Lot Essay

The prominent themes of archaism and imitation in Chinese art reached their pinnacle during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), fuelled by the Kangxi (1662-1722), Yongzheng (1723-1735) and Qianlong (1736-1795) emperors all being renowned as avid collectors of antiques. The shape of the present vessel is based on the Shang dynasty bronze jia, a ritual vessel associated with libation, which would have contained wine. Several fine examples of the bronze prototype can be found in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, illustrated by Robert W. Bagley in Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Washington D.C., 1987, pp. 148-177, nos. 2-11.

A smaller (17.3 cm. high) jade jia carved with similar decoration in the collection of Pierre de Menasce was included in the exhibition, Chinese jade throughout the ages, London, 1975, no. 444.

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