CHINA, QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

Details

A RARE PALE GREENISH-WHITE JADE 'DRAGON' VASE GROUP
CHINA, QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
The cylindrical vase carved in high relief with a dragon chasing a flaming pearl, emerges from the rockwork that rises to one side with wannianqing (Rohdea japonica) from which issues leafy fruiting plants
6 ¾ in. (17.1 cm.) high, hongmu stand

Provenance

The James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection, Chicago, acquired prior to 1990.

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Vicki Paloympis

alsdorfcollection@christies.com +1 212 636 2180

Lot Essay

The motif of dragons clambering on a vase was a popular design on eighteenth-century jades. Compare a larger, white jade vase (29 cm. high), also without a cover, in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jadeware, vol. III, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 63, which is similarly carved in high relief with dragons chasing a flaming pearl. The carving on the present vase is particularly dynamic, most notably seen in the sinuous body and powerful claws of the dragon. The form of this vase bears a similarity in design to conjoined vases. A conjoined vase, carved in yellow jade, also carved with a dragon chasing a flaming pearl, was sold at Christie’s New York, 17- 18 September 2015, lot 2396.

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