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PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE CALIFORNIA FAMILY COLLECTIONCelebrating marriages across the centuries and oceans: a long journey from Shanghai to Hong Kong to Taipei to HollywoodThis stunning white jade marriage bowl has been an heirloom of a family, native to the Shanghai region, for generations. In twentieth century, the bowl journeyed to the port city of Hong Kong before sailing across the South China Sea to Taiwan, as one of the family’s most prized personal possessions. A few years later, the only son of the family left Asia to enroll as a college student in Los Angeles, California. Between his studies, he patronized a family-owned Chinese restaurant near downtown Los Angeles, whose distinctive architecture, modeled after the real Shanghai, perhaps reminded him of home. There he was introduced to the family’s youngest daughter. In due course their engagement was announced, and the jade bowl made another long journey, this time carried across the Pacific Ocean to arrive at the fiancée's family compound in the Hollywood Hills. Far from its first home in China, the jade bowl again fulfilled the purpose for which it was originally carved centuries ago: to celebrate the joyous occasion of a wedding. Since then, the jade marriage bowl has been treasured in the same private family collection in southern California for more than half a century.
A WELL-CARVED WHITE JADE MARRIAGE BOWL
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
Details
A WELL-CARVED WHITE JADE MARRIAGE BOWL
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
The compressed body is raised on four ruyi-head supports and carved in low relief on two sides with a shou character supported by a highly stylized bat above ruyi-shaped clouds, the tips of the extended wings linked to linear scrolls that continue around the sides. Above each shou character is another bat on the outward-curved neck which is flanked by the handles finely carved as winged, horned dragon suspending a loose ring. The wings of the dragon extend back onto the top of the flat rim above a scroll that continues under the rim. The flat underside is carved with a roundel of a bat grasping a branch bearing two peaches as it flies amidst clouds. The well-polished, white stone has an area of pale russet brown color and opaque markings in the bottom and a few small areas of added russet color.
10 ¼ in. (26 cm.) wide across handles, zitan stand
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
The compressed body is raised on four ruyi-head supports and carved in low relief on two sides with a shou character supported by a highly stylized bat above ruyi-shaped clouds, the tips of the extended wings linked to linear scrolls that continue around the sides. Above each shou character is another bat on the outward-curved neck which is flanked by the handles finely carved as winged, horned dragon suspending a loose ring. The wings of the dragon extend back onto the top of the flat rim above a scroll that continues under the rim. The flat underside is carved with a roundel of a bat grasping a branch bearing two peaches as it flies amidst clouds. The well-polished, white stone has an area of pale russet brown color and opaque markings in the bottom and a few small areas of added russet color.
10 ¼ in. (26 cm.) wide across handles, zitan stand
Provenance
Acquired in the early 20th century, and thence by descent within the family.
Brought to you by
Olivia Hamilton