A FINE WHITE JADE FIGURE OF BAN JIEYU

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A FINE WHITE JADE FIGURE OF BAN JIEYU
QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)

The graceful standing figure is modelled with a slightly lowered head, her hair swept back into an elaborate knot, revealing a serene face with lips slightly indented to provide a gentle smiling expression, dressed in a voluminous flowing robe with ample long sleeves, both hands holding a bat, the lower robe on the reverse side with a two line inscription, Ban Jieyue xiao xiang, 'A small portrait of Ban Jieyue', and follow by the signature, Lu Zigang zhi, 'Made by Lu Zigang', the semi-translucent stone of an even white tone
6 in. (15.2 cm.) high, stand

Provenance

Purchased in Geneva, circa 1980

Literature

Robert Kleiner, Chinese Jades from the Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, Hong Kong, 1996, no.177

Exhibited

Christie's New York, March 13-26, 2001
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, August 2003 - December 2004

Lot Essay

Ban Jieyu (circa 48-6 BC) was a consort of Emperor Cheng of the Western Han dynasty (r. 33-7 BC) who was known for her poetry skills. When she fell out of Emperor Cheng's favour, Ban was removed to the Changxin Palace where she wrote poetry in Yuefu style (poems composed in folk song style). In her famous composition, 'Song of Resentment', Ban compared herself to an Autumn fan that had been discarded, and conveyed her sorrow at having been abandoned by the Emperor. Through her poetry, Ban inspired symphathy from famous Tang poets such as Li Bai (701-762) and Wang Changling (692-749), and also the Qing dynasty Emperor Qianlong, all of whom wrote their own poetry with reference to her.

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