A PALE CELADON JADE SWORD POMMEL, WESTERN HAN DYNASTY 西漢青白玉劍首Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價China, 206 BC-8 AD. Of circular form, finely carved in low relief with a central spiral design encircled by lappet motifs, all interspersed by neatly incised cross-hatched designs and curved lines. The back with a central circular aperture flanked by two small pierced holes. The stone of a pale celadon tone with dark gray and cloudy inclusions as well as areas of white calcification. Good polish and elegant luster.Provenance: Collection of Harry Geoffrey Beasley (1881-1939) and thence by descent to his widow Irene Beasley. Collection of Alfred William Cowperthwaite (1890-1964), acquired from the above c. 1939 and thence by descent in the same family. Harry Geoffrey Beasley (1881-1939) was a British anthropologist and museum curator who developed an important ethnographic collection during the early 20th century that is now held in various British museums. With his wife Irene, Beasley set up the Cranmore Ethnographical Museum which eventually held more than 6,000 objects of ethnographical interest. The Beasleys collected objects from across Europe, buying from auction houses and local museums to expand the collection, which contained material from the Pacific, Asia, Africa, and Northwestern America. Beasley wrote numerous articles for anthropological journals and was considered an expert in his field. He died in 1939 and his collection was stored with the British Museum collections during the war, which was fortunate as the Cranmore Museum was destroyed by bombing. After the war substantial portions of the collection were passed to the British Museum, the Royal Museum in Edinburgh, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the University of Cambridge, the Pitt Rivers Museum, and the Merseyside County Museum. Other pieces, such as the present lot, were sold by his widow and, after her death in 1974, by their daughters. Alfred William Cowperthwaite (1890-1964) was a contributor to the Cranmore Museum and became good friends with Harry Beasley. Shortly after Harry Beasley’s death, he acquired a number of objects from Irene Beasley, including the present lot.Condition: Good condition with minor old wear, minuscule nibbling, minor signs of weathering and erosion, and iron rust encrustations. The stone with natural fissures, some of which have developed into small hairline cracks over time.Weight: 21.3 gDimensions: Diameter 3.8 cm Literature comparison: Compare a related jade pommel, dated ca. 3rd-1st century BC, 4.6 cm diameter, in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession number S1987.599. Compare various other pommels excavated from the tomb of the King of Nanyue and illustrated in Jades from the Tomb of the King of Nanyue, pls. 204, 210, 211, and 212.Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 30 November 2021, lot 461 Price: HKD 176,400 or approx. EUR 21,000 converted at the time of writing Description: A jade sword pommel, Han dynasty Expert remark: Compare the related form and design. Note the size (5.7 cm).
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A FINE PALE CELADON AND CHESTNUT BROWN JADE ‘MONKEYS AND PEACH’ GROUP, 18TH CENTURY 十八世紀青白玉雙猴擺件Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價China. Intricately and imaginatively depicted with an adult monkey gently embracing a young in its right arm, both holding a peach, the young further with a ruyi scepter in his left raised hand, the scepter suspending a long band with a jade chime, all naturalistically carved with wrinkled foreheads and the adult monkey with protruding spines finely detailed with incised hairs. The translucent stone of a pale celadon tone with areas of chestnut-brown and grayish white, interspersed with few dark speckles.Provenance: From the private collection of Anthony Gustav de Rothschild. Gifted to his daughter Renée Robeson. Thence by descent within the same family. Anthony Gustav de Rothschild (1887-1961) was born in London as the third youngest of three sons of the banker Leopold de Rothschild. He studied at the University of Cambridge and became the managing partner of the N M Rothschild & Sons banking house after the death of his father. De Rothschild inherited his father’s passion for collecting, starting to collect Chinese jade and works of art after a trip to China in 1911. Most of his objects were assembled during the 1920s and 1930s. The present lot belongs to a group of important jades which Rothschild gifted to his eldest daughter Renée Louise Robeson (1927-2015) before he eventually donated the family home to charity. Condition: Good condition with expected old wear, the feet with a few small nicks, the stone with natural inclusions and fissures, some of which may have developed into hairline cracks. The wood stand with minor wear.Weight: 428.0 g (excl. base), 464.4 g (incl. base) Dimensions: Height 11.9 cm (excl. stand), 13.4 cm (incl. stand)With a fitted, carved, and lacquered wood stand dating from the late Qing dynasty to the Republic period. (2)This jade carving of monkeys exemplifies the masterful craftsmanship achieved in the jade ateliers during the 18th century. The craftsman would have assessed the unusual jade stone composed of the rare contrasting pale celadon and chestnut-brown tones, utilizing the fine natural material to create the exceptionally skillful carving.Homophones for monkey, hou, include the Chinese words for 'nobleman', 'high official', and 'descendants'. The monkey therefore represents the wish for the success of one's descendants. The representation of monkey and peach also relates to the legendary figure of Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, who became notorious for stealing the peaches of immortality. Auction result comparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 7 April 2013, lot 3209Price: HKD 475,000 or approx. EUR 72,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A pale celadon and brown jade 'monkey' group carving, Qing dynasty, 18th centuryExpert remark: Compare the related motif, color of the jade, and fine carving. Note the slightly smaller size (9.2 cm).Auction result comparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 27 November 2007, lot 1557Price: HKD 2,287,500 or approx. EUR 420,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A fine brown and white jade group of two monkeysExpert remark: Compare the related motif and color of the jade. Note the slightly larger size (15 cm).Auction result comparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 29 November 2016, lot 14Price: HKD 1,250,000 or approx. EUR 170,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A very fine white and brown jade carving of four monkeys, 18th centuryExpert remark: Compare the related motif and color of the jade. Note the slightly smaller size (8.8 cm).
A SPINACH-GREEN JADE MARRIAGE BOWL, CHINA, 18TH CENTURY 十八世紀龍首活環菠菜綠玉洗Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價The deep, gently rounded sides rise from a tall, flared foot, flanked by two openwork dragon-head handles suspending thick loose rings. Finely carved with a raised band of archaistic kuilong centered by a gankyil symbol, the foot with a band of neatly detailed lappets. The translucent stone of a deep spinach-green hue with dark veining and specks as well as icy inclusions. The overall depth and detail of the carving is remarkable.Provenance: From a reputable gallery in London, United Kingdom. The base with an old label, ‘30’.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and minuscule nibbling. The jade with natural inclusions and fissures, some of which have developed into small hairline cracks.Weight: 416.9 gDimensions: Width 21.2 cm Auction result comparison: Type: RelatedAuction: Sotheby’s London, 18 May 2018, lot 273Price: GBP 22,500 or approx. EUR 36,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A spinach-green jade marriage bowl, Qing dynastyExpert remark: Compare the similar purpose, color, and form including handles suspending loose rings and bands of archaistic decoration. Note the size (28.9 cm) and the apocryphal Qianlong mark. 十八世紀龍首活環菠菜綠玉洗敞口，斜腹，高底足外撇，兩側是龍首活環。外壁浮雕仿古夔龍紋飾帶；足部有一周芭蕉葉紋飾。半透明的玉石呈深菠菜綠色，帶有深色紋理和斑點以及内沁。細節精美，玉料瑩潤。 來源：英國倫敦的一家著名藝廊，底座上有舊標籤“30”。 品相：狀況極其好，有輕微磨損、刻痕，玉石具有天然内沁和裂隙，有的已發展成細小的裂紋。 重量：416.克 尺寸：寬 21.2 厘米拍賣結果比較： 形制：相近 拍賣：倫敦蘇富比，2018年5月18日，lot 273 價格：GBP 22,500（相當於今日EUR 36,000） 描述：清碧玉饕餮紋活環耳洗 專家評論：比較相近的作用、顏色，以及外形包括活環和仿古裝飾帶雙耳。請注意尺寸(28.9厘米)和乾隆仿款。
A SUPERB CELADON AND BROWN JADE ‘DRAGON’ PENDANT, WESTERN HAN DYNASTY 西漢青玉龍紋佩Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價China, 206 BC-AD 8. Of flattened form, the S-shaped dragon is finely carved in openwork with subtle incision work detailing the eyes, ears, and mane of the dragon, and neatly decorated with spiral and cross-hatched designs. The fierce dragon bares its teeth, the horn is pierced with a small aperture for suspension. The translucent stone is of a celadon hue with a dark brown patch at the head, the horn and ear of a paler beige tone, the shadings of the stone skillfully incorporated by the lapidary.Provenance: From an old private collection in southern Germany, assembled via inheritance in the 1950s and acquisitions from the 1960s to the 1980s, and thence by descent within the family. With an old label, ‘Jade Hanzeit. C. OTV. Drache.’ (Jade, Han period, Dragon) Condition: Good condition with expected old wear, weathering and erosion, minor nibbling, few tiny nicks, natural inclusions and fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks.Weight: 25.8 g Dimensions: Length 9 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 29 November 2022, lot 2727 Price: HKD 2,520,000 or approx. EUR 294,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A jade dragon-form pendant, Western Han dynasty Expert remark: Compare the related flattened form, modeling with similar head and curling mane and tail, and manner of carving with similar spiral decorations. Note the size (7.7 cm).Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 29 November 2022, lot 2730 Price: HKD 945,000 or approx. EUR 110,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A pair of jade reticulated ‘dragon’ pendants, Western Han dynasty Expert remark: Compare the related flattened form, modeling with similar head and curling mane and tail, and manner of carving with similar spiral decorations. Note the size (11.5 cm) and that the lot comprises a pair. 西漢青玉龍紋佩中國，西元前206年至西元八世紀。龍紋玉佩呈扁平狀，鏤空工藝精美雕刻並結合紋理顔色，龍眼、耳朵和鬃毛上都有精緻雕刻表現，並飾有雲紋。龍齜牙呈咆哮狀，角上穿有小孔，可供懸掛。半透明的玉石頭呈青色，龍頭有深棕色斑點，角和耳朵呈淺米色。 來源：德國南部私人舊藏，二十世紀五十年代被繼承，1960 年代至八十年代被收購，在同一家族保存。舊標籤上注明“Jade Hanzeit. C. OTV. Drache” （漢代玉器，龍）。 品相：狀況良好，有磨損、風化和侵蝕、輕微磕損、少量小刻痕、天然內沁和裂縫，其中一些可能已發展成細小的裂紋。 重量：25.8 克 尺寸：長 9 厘米 拍賣結果比較: 形制：相近 拍賣：香港佳士得，2022年11月29日，lot 2727 價格：HKD 2,520,000（相當於今日EUR 294,000） 描述：西漢玉龍形珮 專家評論：比較相近形態扁平，頭部造型相似，鬃尾捲曲，雕刻方式相似螺旋紋飾。請注意尺寸 (7.7 厘米)。 拍賣結果比較: 形制：相近 拍賣：香港佳士得，2022年11月29日，lot 2730 價格：HKD 945,000（相當於今日EUR 110,000） 描述：西漢玉鏤雕龍紋觿一對 專家評論：比較相近形態扁平，頭部造型相似，鬃尾捲曲，雕刻方式相似螺旋紋飾。請注意尺寸 (11.5 厘米) ，以及此為一對。
AN IMPERIAL CELADON AND RUSSET JADE ‘CHILONG’ RHYTON, QIANLONG MARK AND PERIOD 乾隆款與年代御製青玉留皮螭龍角杯Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價China, 1736-1795. Of baluster form with a handle in the form of a clambering chilong and a sloping lip. Carved with sparse C-shaped scrolls to the upper register, dense scrolls and two roundels with scroll designs to the middle register, and stiff leaves and key-fret to the lower register. The translucent stone of a pale celadon tone with russet veins and cloudy white inclusions. The concave base neatly incised with a four-character mark Qianlong nianzhi and of the period.Provenance: A private collector in the United Kingdom.Condition: Very good condition with minor old wear, microscopic nicks, the stone with natural fissures, some of which have developed into small hairline cracks over time.Weight: 225.9 gDimensions: Height 12.7 cmExpert’s note: The Qianlong Emperor’s great love of jade combined with his passion for antiques resulted in his commissioning significant numbers of archaistic jade items for his court. The present lot belongs to an important group of such objects, all carved from ‘impure’ jade with prominent fissures and inclusions, erroneously believed by some to be anathema to the Emperor. On the contrary, jades carved from this specific material were one of his greatest passions. During the 44th year of the Qianlong reign (1779), the Suzhou Manufactory was ordered to create a jade vase from a piece of shanliao (nephrite) raw jade. Because of cracks in the jade, the intended size was not possible, and the manufactory sought further instruction from the Emperor. Qianlong responded that if by reducing the size of the finished vase the cracks could be avoided, that would be a good solution, but if even then the cracks could not be avoided, then it would be better to maintain the intended size, as such cracks were a natural characteristic of jade after all. In fact, the Qianlong Emperor believed that defects such as spots and cracks added to the archaic feeling of a work.This aesthetic use of material defects can also be seen in other archaistic jade objects created during the Qianlong reign (see Auction result comparison), indicating that the Emperor considered the craft and decorative program of a jade object more important than the quality of the raw material. Although Qianlong had always had a love of the past, he only promoted the production of archaistic jades in society at large during the middle and late periods of his reign, due to the appearance of certain new kinds of jade that he detested. In the 39th year of his reign (1774), Qianlong criticized the “wretched new forms of jade” in his writing, and later proceeded to lodge repeated criticisms against other new-fangled forms that he considered unacceptably vulgar for being overwrought, excessively ornate, or slavish towards raw materiality. He regarded the popularity of such forms as a “catastrophe for jade”. Whether these forms strike us today as indeed catastrophic or rather innovative, it is clear that the Emperor found them unbearable.Auction result comparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 26 May 2013, lot 131Price: HKD 475,000 or approx. EUR 75,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: An imperial archaistic jade 'phoenix' snuff bottle attributed to the palace workshops, mark and period of QianlongExpert remark: Compare the closely related color of the stone, and fine incision work.Auction result comparison:Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 3 April 2018, lot 3638Price: HKD 21,720,000 or approx. EUR 2,963,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: An imperial, highly important and magnificent Khotan-green jade archaistic vase, Fanggu mark and period of QianlongExpert remark: Compare the closely related color of the stone, and fine incision work. Note the size (41.5 cm)Auction result comparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 28 May 2014, lot 3370Price: HKD 2,920,000 or approx. EUR 445,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A rare large imperial jade archaistic vase, Qianlong four-character, Fanggu mark inscribed in a line and of the period (1736-1795)Expert remark: Compare the closely related color of the stone, and fine incision work. Note the size (33 cm)
AN ARCHAISTIC WHITE JADE ‘BEAR’ GARMENT HOOK, QING DYNASTY 清代仿古白玉熊衣飾掛扣Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價China, 1644-1912. The bear's right foreleg, intricately carved, stretches above its head to build the hook, showcasing its daunting clawed paws. The head is crafted in the style of the Han dynasty, and the impressive creature is seated on its haunches. The smooth, translucent stone has a fine white color, exhibits icy inclusions and creamy-russet patches along the base and side, adding to its overall appeal.Provenance: Swedish trade.Condition: Very good condition with expected old wear, some signs of erosion along the russet edges, and small nicks here and there, smoothened over time. The jade has natural fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks.Weight: 62.2 g Dimensions: Length 8.8 cm The bear has been a popular totemic emblem in China since ancient times. China's foundation myths hold that the legendary Yellow Emperor, Huang Di, early on lived with his tribe in the northwest, where he became a farmer and tamed six different types of ferocious beasts, including the bear, or xiong, with which the Yellow Emperor ever since has been linked.Literature comparison:Compare a related white jade toggle of a bear, 5.2 cm long, dated to the 10th to 11th century, in the British Museum, registration number 1945,1017.56. Compare a prototype white jade pinhead in the form of a bear, 3.3 cm high, dated to the Han dynasty, in the British Museum, registration number 1945,1017.24. Compare a related white jade bear toggle and its closely related style, 4.2 cm high, dated to the Han dynasty, in the British Museum, registration number 2022,3034.249.Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 24 June 2014, lot 8011 Price: USD 6,875 or approx. EUR 8,100 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: An unusual white jade garment hook, 18th century Expert remark: Note the similar shape of the hook and the related archaistic style of the mythical creature. Note the size (10.5 cm).Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Galerie Zacke, Vienna, 15 October 2021, lot 77 Price: EUR 27,808 or approx. EUR 33,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A pale celadon jade figure of a bear, eastern Han dynasty Expert remark: Note the size (4.4 cm) and that this is an archaic carving, dating from the Han dynasty. 清代仿古白玉熊衣飾掛扣中國，1644-1912 年。 熊的右前腿伸展到頭頂上方形成鉤子，整體動感十足。頭部採用漢代風格。光滑、半透明玉石呈現出細膩的白色，底部和側面有内沁和黃褐色斑塊。 來源：瑞典古玩交易。 品相：狀況極好，有磨損，黃褐色邊緣有一些侵蝕，大面積小刻痕，隨著時間的推移變得平滑。玉石有天然裂隙，有的可能發展成細小裂紋。 重量：62.2 克 尺寸：長8.8 厘米 文獻比較： 比較一件相近的十至十一世紀白玉熊指，5長.2 厘米，收藏於大英博物館，館藏編號1945,1017.56。比較一件漢代白玉熊指，高3.3 厘米，收藏於大英博物館，館藏編號1945,1017.24。比較一件非常相近的漢代白玉熊指，高4.2 厘米，收藏於大英博物館，館藏編號2022,3034.249。 拍賣結果比較： 形制：相近 拍賣：舊金山邦翰斯，2014年6月24日， lot 8011 價格：USD 6,875（相當於今日EUR 8,100） 描述：十八世紀白玉帶鉤 專家評論：請注意相似的鉤形，以及相近的仿古神獸。請注意尺寸(10.5 厘米)。 拍賣結果比較： 形制：相近 拍賣：Galerie Zacke，維也納，2021年10月15日，lot 77 價格：EUR 27,808（相當於今日EUR 33,000） 描述：東漢灰白玉雕熊 專家評論：請注意尺寸(4.4 厘米)，以及此玉為漢代。
AN IMPORTANT YELLOW JADE ‘DOUBLE-BEAR’ ORNAMENTAL SEAL AND RITUAL PLAQUE, SPRING AND AUTUMN PERIOD, CHINA, CIRCA 770 TO 481 BCPlease note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價Expert’s note: This exceptional jade plaque, distinguished by its remarkable preservation and rarity, encompasses the craftsmanship styles of both the Shang and Zhou dynasties, as aptly noted by Harry Geoffrey Beasley in his commentary on this artwork a century ago (refer to provenance section below). It stands as an extraordinary testament to the legacy of the Spring and Autumn era. With a prestigious history, it was initially held in the esteemed collection of Henry Dyer, a renowned engineer and collector from Glasgow, Scotland, who was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by Emperor Meiji. Subsequently, it found its place in the museum of Harry Geoffrey Beasley before eventually becoming part of the family collection of Alfred William Cowperthwaite in 1939. In terms of quality and condition, this jade plaque ranks alongside the finest surviving archaic jades in the rich history of ancient China.The accompanying written note by Harry Geoffrey Beasley describes the present jade as a "Display Plaque" that combines designs from “the Shang and Zhou” dynasties. He emphasizes its uniqueness and significance by stating, "Unique and of extreme importance. Ex: Dyer Collection." A copy of this note, along with the presentation box in which it was discovered, is included with this lot. Please refer to the provenance section below for more details.The plaque is entirely flat and exhibits meticulous carvings on both sides, portraying two crouching bears positioned back to back. These bears are intricately rendered with emphasized facial features and paws, all finely incised in deep and high relief. Additionally, the plaque is adorned with two stylized dragons on the back of each bear, accompanied by skillfully executed geometric designs. These designs are masterfully crafted using adjacent double- and single-line grooves, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the piece.The absence of any drilled holes or natural openings that would allow suspension leaves no doubt that this plaque was not intended to be worn merely as a piece of jewelry or an ornamental item, neither during one's lifetime nor in the afterlife. Instead, it was specifically crafted as a ceremonial centerpiece, likely revered and utilized in rituals spanning generations. It probably also served as a seal plaque and was ultimately interred alongside a significant noble leader. The substantial size of 12.8 cm further supports this evaluation.The translucent stone is of a beautiful pale yellow tone with faint green hues and a few distinct russet spots. Calcification throughout.Provenance: -Henry Dyer (1848-1918), according to a copy of a handwritten note written by Harry Geoffrey Beasley found inside a presentation box, which was custom made for the present lot by the orders of Alfred William Cowperthwaite. Most likely acquired by Henry Dyer during his stay in Japan from 1873 to 1882, where he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, the highest Japanese honor available to foreigners, by the Emperor Meiji.-Harry Geoffrey Beasley (1881-1939), acquired from the above, probably after Dyer’s death in 1918. -Irene Beasley, widow of Harry Geoffrey Beasley, by descent in 1939. -Alfred William Cowperthwaite (1890-1964), acquired from the above in 1939 or shortly thereafter.-Thence by descent within the Cowperthwaite family to the last owner.Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Wear, minuscule nibbling, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, all consistent with an extensive time of burial. Calcification throughout.Weight: 54.9 gDimensions: Length 12.1 cm With an old presentation box and glass cover. (2) Due to length restriction on the platform, this entry is shortened. For full description please visit www.zacke.at.由于Drouot平台拍品叙述的长度限制，我们移除了中文叙述，完整中文叙述请至www.zacke.at查看
AN EXCEPTIONAL PAIR OF WHITE JADE ‘QUAIL’ BOXES AND COVERS, QIANLONG PERIOD, 1736-1795 乾隆時期一對白玉鵪鶉蓋盒Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價Expert’s note: The artist paid meticulous attention to the differences between male and female quails while creating the original concept for these boxes during the earlier Qianlong period. Notably, the female quail is depicted as larger than the male, their eyes are portrayed differently, and the sizes of their beaks diverge. Although white jade obviously cannot display colors, the design of the present boxes aims to symbolize the great variety found in male and female quail plumage through neatly incised patterns and textures. An almost identical pair from this group, showcasing the same characteristics of sexual dimorphism, was previously sold at Christie's Hong Kong on November 30, 2011, as lot 3029 (refer to auction result comparison below). Although other examples within the group do exhibit these characteristics to some degree, they appear to be less intricate overall. Therefore, it is believed that only the earliest group, likely crafted between 1740 and 1750, displays the remarkable level of detail found in the current lot.Both quails are shown with their taloned feet tucked under their bodies. The upper half of each box serves as a perfectly fitting cover, precisely aligning with the scalloped edges. The plumage is incised with remarkable detail, while the head is gently turned to one side and adorned with several layers of feathering. The beak and eyes exhibit finely carved lines, adding to the overall intricacy.The semi-translucent white jade displays an even tone with subtle hints of pale celadon and tiny russet inclusions. The polish of the stone is of magnificent quality, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the pair. (4)Provenance: From a private collection in Paris, France, and thence by descent.Condition: Pristine condition with old wear and few microscopic nicks, inherent to the stone, which have smoothened over time. Expected natural inclusions and fissures.Weight: 263.8 g and 221.7 gDimensions: Length 11.4 cm and 10.6 cmThe quail is an emblem of courage in Chinese art, due to its fierce nature and fighting prowess. Curiously, however, because the Chinese word for quail (an) is a homophone for ‘peace’, it is often recognized as a symbol of harmonious existence. Two quails can be read as shuang an, or 'double peace', and thus, these birds appear as a pair on paintings, porcelains and textiles from as early as the Song dynasty.Auction result comparison:Type: Near-identicalAuction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 November 2011, lot 3029Price: HKD 2,660,000 or approx. EUR 435,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: An exquisite pair of white jade quail-form boxes and covers, Qianlong period (1736-1795)Expert remark: Another example from the earliest group. Compare the marked difference in the eyes, feathers, and beaks of the male and female quail. Note the identical length (11.5 cm) of the larger bird.Auction result comparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 28 November 2012, lot 2182Price: HKD 2,540,000 or approx. EUR 395,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: An pair of white jade quail-form boxes and covers, Qianlong period (1736-1795)Expert remark: A later example, where the difference in the eyes, beaks, and feathers are less prominent. Note the slightly larger size (11.8 cm).Auction result comparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 May 2012, lot 4110Price: HKD 2,180,000 or approx. EUR 339,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A fine pair of white jade quail-form boxes and covers, Qianlong period (1736-1795)Expert remark: A later example, where the difference in the eyes, beaks, and feathers are less prominent. Note the slightly smaller size (10.5 cm).
A CARVED CELADON JADE BOX AND COVER IN THE FORM OF A RAM, QING DYNASTY 清代青玉臥羊形蓋盒 Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價China, 18th – 19th century. Naturalistically carved, the recumbent ram with its legs tucked underneath, looking straight ahead with almond-shaped eyes, further detailed with grooved horns curving down the back of its neck towards its jaw, an accentuated back bone finishes at the tail which is slightly twisted to one side. The translucent stone of deep celadon tone with a faint yellow hue and cloudy inclusions as well as icy and russet veins.Provenance: Boston trade.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and few minuscule nicks to the cover’s rim. The stone with natural fissures, some of which have developed into small hairline cracks, particularly around the right eye.Weight: 348.3 gDimensions: Length 10.3 cm Expert’s note: It is remarkable to see how cleverly the lapidary integrated a circular russet vein running around the proper right eye, which has developed into a natural fissure over the centuries, to simulate a differently colored fur patch which is often found on real rams.Auction result comparison: Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 May 2018, lot 3143Price: HKD 275,000 or approx. EUR 36,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A carved yellow jade rabbit-form box and coverExpert remark: Note the size (8.3 cm). 清代青玉臥羊形蓋盒中國，十八至十九世紀。立體雕刻蓋盒，呈臥羊狀，大眼平視前方，有角，前後肢斂收於身下，背脊明顯。深青色半透明玉料，帶有淡淡的黃色絮狀物與赤褐色的紋理。 來源：波士頓古玩貿易。 品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損，蓋子邊緣有一些微小的劃痕。具有天然裂隙的石頭，其中一些已發展成細小的細裂紋，尤其是在右眼周圍。 重量：348.3 克 尺寸：長10.3 釐米 專家注釋：令人驚奇的是，寶石工匠巧妙地將右眼周圍的赤褐色圓形紋理融入雕刻中，該紋理在幾個世紀以來已發展成天然裂隙，如真羊身上的不同顏色的毛。 拍賣結果比較： 形制：非常相近 拍賣：香港佳士得，2018年5月30日，lot 3143 價格：HKD 275,000（相當於今日EUR 36,000） 描述：黃玉臥兔形蓋盒 專家評論：請注意尺寸(8.3 厘米)。
A WHITE AND RUSSET JADE ‘FOUR SCHOLARLY ACCOMPLISHMENTS’ GROUP, SIYI, QING DYNASTY 清代白玉雕四藝擺件Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價China, 18th-19th century. The stone carved in the form of a qin, a weiqi (go) board, a brush pot, a gnarled prunus branch, and billowing ribbons, symbolizing the 'Four Scholarly Pursuits' (siyi). The translucent stone of a pale yellow color with areas of russet and cloudy white inclusions.Provenance: London, United Kingdom trade.Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and minuscule nibbling.Weight: 45.5 g Dimensions: Length 4.9 cmThe four arts (siyi), or the four essential arts of the Chinese scholar, were the four main academic and artistic talents required of the aristocratic ancient Chinese scholar-gentleman. They were the mastery of the qin (the guqin, a stringed instrument), weiqi (the strategy game of Go), shu (Chinese calligraphy) and hua (Chinese painting).Every scholar in Imperial China was expected to play the seven-stringed zither or qin. The board game of weiqi was considered equally a pastime and an art form. Chinese calligraphy was highly regarded as an expression of the practitioner's poetic nature and a significant test of manual dexterity. It comprises a minimalist set of rules which facilitates a system of complexity and grandeur. Finally, every scholar was expected to learn the art of brush painting, which was regarded as the greatest expression of individual creativity, through which one could demonstrate his mastery over the art of line.Auction result comparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 30 November 2017, lot 717Price: HKD 100,000 or approx. EUR 13,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A pale celadon jade 'four scholarly accomplishments' group, Qing dynastyAuction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s London, 8 November 2011, lot 172 Price: GBP 43,250 or approx. EUR 65,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A celadon jade pendant, 18th century清代白玉雕四藝擺件中國，十八至十九世紀。玉石雕刻琴、圍棋盤、筆筒和梅枝，象徵著“四藝”。半透明的淡黃色玉石，帶有赤褐色絮狀内沁。 來源：英國倫敦古玩交易市場。 品相：狀況極好，有些微磨損和輕微的刻痕。 重量：45.5 克 尺寸：長4.9 厘米 四藝，通常指中國文人所推崇和要掌握的四門藝術，即琴、棋、書、畫， 又稱為“文人四藝”，他們是文人消遣並體現自身修養的四種藝術形式。 拍賣結果比較： 形制：相近 拍賣：香港蘇富比，2017年11月30日，lot 717 價格：HKD 100,000（相當於今日EUR 13,000） 描述：清代青白玉四藝擺件 拍賣結果比較： 形制：相近 拍賣：倫敦佳士得，2011年11月8日，lot 172 價格：GBP 43,250（相當於今日EUR 65,500） 描述：十八世紀青玉擺件
AN IMPORTANT AND RARE JADE ‘MASK’ PENDANT, HUANG, LIANGZHU CULTURE 良渚文化罕見神面玉璜Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價China, circa 3300-2200 BC. Finely decorated to all sides and edges with neatly applied incision work depicting cosmic cloud scrolls, the present Huang has a prominently carved godhead mask located at the center of the front side, just beneath a zoomorphic bird head with a pointed beak at the top. Both wings are pierced with funneled apertures for suspension. The opaque stone is of a brown hue with beige clouding and dark brown inclusions.Provenance: From the Sir Percival David collection, according to an old paper label reading “The Percival Collection, of Chinese Jades” and manually inscribed “Zoomorphic Figure”. Collection of Harry Geoffrey Beasley, probably acquired from the above between 1923 and 1939, and thence by descent to his widow Irene Beasley. Collection of Alfred William Cowperthwaite, acquired from the above c. 1939 and thence by descent in the same family. Sir Percival David (1892-1964) was a Bombay-born British financier who is best known as a scholar and collector of Chinese ceramics, postal stamps, and jades. He became enamored with Chinese art after his visit to China in 1923 and started the Percival David Foundation to promote the research of Chinese art and culture. His collection grew to an astounding 1,700 pieces, which are now on display at the British Museum. Harry Geoffrey Beasley (1881-1939) was a British anthropologist and museum curator who developed an important ethnographic collection during the early 20th century that is now held in various British museums. With his wife Irene, Beasley set up the Cranmore Ethnographical Museum which eventually held more than 6,000 objects of ethnographical interest. The Beasleys collected objects from across Europe, buying from auction houses and local museums to expand the collection, which contained material from the Pacific, Asia, Africa, and Northwestern America. Beasley wrote numerous articles for anthropological journals and was considered an expert in his field. He died in 1939 and his collection was stored with the British Museum collections during the war, which was fortunate as the Cranmore Museum was destroyed by bombing. After the war, substantial portions of the collection were passed to the British Museum, the Royal Museum in Edinburgh, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the University of Cambridge, the Pitt Rivers Museum, and the Merseyside County Museum. Other pieces, such as the present lot, were sold by his widow and, after her death in 1974, by their daughters. Alfred William Cowperthwaite (1890-1964) was a contributor to the Cranmore Museum and became good friends with Harry Beasley. Shortly after Harry Beasley’s death, he acquired a number of objects from Irene Beasley, including the present lot.Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear and weathering, as expected, with rubbing and abrasion to the fine incision work, and some nicks and chips which have smoothened over time. The stone with natural inclusions and fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks over time. Calcification throughout.Weight: 73.7 g Dimensions: Length 10.3 cm With an associated metal stand. (2)Huang were a part of the elite adornments during the Neolithic period, especially within Hongshan, Liangzhu, and Longshan cultures. These were worn along with headgear, knee decorations, elaborate beaded necklaces, and other body ornaments, all made primarily from jade. Dr. Elizabeth Childs-Johnson dubs these cultures a part of the ‘Jade Age’, a period during which an abundance of jade objects accompanied the elite burials for the first time. The imagery carved on these jade adornments was highly standardized, and the most prominent image, which appears on this lot, is that of the godhead (also called a spirit person, shenren, or an anthropomorphized deity). This image is flat, often covered in cosmic cloud scrolls, and has zoomorphic attributes combining bird and semi-human elements.Literature comparison:Compare a closely related but much smaller jade pendant with godhead incision work, 6.3 cm long, dated to the Neolithic period, Liangzhu culture, in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession number S1987.734. Compare also a related jade ornament with a mask godhead, 8.3 cm wide, dated to the Neolithic period, Liangzhu culture, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 18.63.
A RARE WHITE MARBLE CARVING OF A PHALLUS, WESTERN HAN DYNASTY 西漢漢白玉玉勢 Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價China, 206 BC-8 AD. The realistically carved elongated phallus is decorated with rings along the shaft and with a cross-hatched decorative band at the base. The base has a domed recess inside that is pierced horizontally for suspension. This recess has a second aperture that extends to the tip of the phallus.Provenance: Bonhams, Hong Kong, December 16th, 2022, lot 351. Note that Bonham’s experts originally dated this lot to the Tang dynasty.Condition: Good condition commensurate with age. Signs of wear, weathering, and erosion. Minor nicks and losses. Soil encrustations overall, issuing from an extended period of burial. These encrustations cannot be easily removed, and they have left distinct marks to the mineral. The stone with natural inclusions and fissures, some of which have developed into hairline cracks. Fine, naturally grown golden-brown patina overall.Weight: 431.7 g Dimensions: Length 18.9 cm Expert’s note: Similar to the few known phallus sculptures from ancient China, the heavy encrustation from extensive burial is evidence of its (eventual) use as a grave good. The elaborate carving with great attention to detail and the two apertures, one for suspension and one for added realism, suggest the elite status of the person with which this was buried. Phallic objects carved from stone, or cast from metal or terracotta, are common subjects of any major ancient culture. Throughout time, the phallus was seen as an emblem of life and procreation. Not only did it have the power to induce fertility, but it also had an equally important role as an auspicious emblem which would ward off diseases. The practice of castration and the employment of court eunuchs, likely established in China during the Sui dynasty, added a secondary role of model phalli: the restoration of manhood after death (court eunuchs would be buried with their detached genitalia). However, this multifaceted subject remains somewhat of a taboo, which has contributed to relatively scarce publications about ancient Chinese erotic sculpture.Phalluses of various materials, believed to be associated with fertility rites, have been made in various prehistoric cultures in the Yellow River basin. Later in the Shang dynasty, when pictographic language emerged, the character zu (ancestor) closely resembled the male sexual organ, indicating the significance of the male role in ancient Chinese ancestry.Literature comparison: Compare two similar bronze phallus excavated from a tomb in the Dayun Mountain, Xuyi, Jiangsu, dated to the Western Han dynasty, in the Nanjin Museum, included in the exhibition Tomb Treasures: New Discoveries from China’s Han Dynasty, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, 17 February-28 May 2017. Compare two bronze V-shaped double-phalli, excavated in the tomb of Prince Zhongshan (Liu Sheng), dated to the Han dynasty, published in Mancheng Han mu Fajue Baogao (Excavation Report of the Han Dynasty tomb at Mancheng), Beijing, 1980, vol. 1, pp. 100. The former was unearthed together with a pair of matching stone pebbles, illustrated ibid., vol. 2, pl. LXI, fig. 2.Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 29 April 2022, lot 3670 Estimate: HKD 140,000 or approx. EUR 16,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze phallus, Han dynasty Expert remark: Note the similar wrinkle-like rings at the top of the shaft. Note the size (17.2 cm).
A RARE SOAPSTONE FIGURE OF VIJRAPUTRA, AKA THE LAUGHING LION LUOHAN OR XIAOSHI LUOHAN, QING DYNASTY 清代皂石笑獅羅漢Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價Expert’s note: The present lot depicts Vijraputra, one of the eighteen luohan, who is also known as the ‘laughing lion luohan’ (chinese: xiaoshi luohan) and is always accompanied by a Buddhist lion. However, the depiction of such playfulness between the figure and the beast is quite rare.China, 17th-18th century. Well carved, the luohan seated in rajalilasana, holding with both hands a lion cub playfully tugging on his earring. He is wearing voluminous robes with neatly incised floral hems, all masterfully embellished with ink and polychrome pigments. The finely polished stone is of a creamy beige hue with deep orange and red shadings and veins as well as cloudy inclusions. Provenance: From the private collection of a gentleman in the United States. Condition: Very good condition with some old wear, rubbing and losses to pigment, the stone with natural inclusions fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks. Everything exactly as expected and commensurate with age.Weight: 160.1 g Dimensions: Height 8.6 cm With a padded storage box. (2)The eighteen luohan (arhats) are the original followers of Buddha, who were commanded to await the coming of the Future Buddha, Maitreya. Believed by some to have attained enlightenment, they are also regarded as being freed from the cycle of reincarnation and act as guardians over those who have not.Literature comparison: Compare a related soapstone figure of a luohan, 10.8 cm high, dated to the 17th century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 2013.167. Compare a related soapstone figure of a luohan with a lion cub by Zhou Bin, dated to the 17th century, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 3 April 2012, lot 136.Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 25 January 2007, lot 241 Price: GBP 11,400 or approx. EUR 25,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A Chinese creamy soapstone model of a luohan, 17th/18th century Expert remark: Compare the related motif and manner of carving. Note the rockwork stand, coral and turquoise embellishments, and the size (11.4 cm).Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 18 March 2008, lot 203 Price: USD 20,000 or approx. EUR 26,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A fine soapstone 'luohan and lion cub' group, Qing dynasty, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related motif, with the lion also playfully tugging on the luohan’s earring, and related manner of carving. Note the deep red color. 清代皂石笑獅羅漢中國，十七至十八世紀。羅漢由皂石雕製而成，色呈黃褐色，質地瑩潤，紋理細膩。羅漢身著僧衣，衣褶線條流暢，雙腿呈半跏趺坐，軀體微向左傾，雙手撫抱一獅，神態閒適。小獅踩踏羅漢手及肩上，用舌頭輕舔其左耳，羅漢額頭及眼尾皺紋深陷，弓眉突顴，雙眼微閉，嘴角含笑左翹，露出愉悅之情。刻劃自然得體，神情塑造尤其生動出色，極具巧思，具有絕佳的神韻風采。 來源：美國紳士私人收藏。 品相：狀況極好，有一些磨損和顏色損失，石頭帶有天然裂紋，其中一些可能發展成細小的裂紋。 重量：160.1 克 尺寸：高8.6 厘米 配有帶襯墊的儲物盒。(2) 文獻比較： 比較一件相近的十七世紀羅漢皂石，高10.8 厘米，收藏於大都會藝術博物館，館藏編號2013.167。比較一件相近的十七世紀壽山石雕「伏獅羅漢」像《古閩周彬尚均氏製》款，見香港蘇富比，2012年4月3日，lot 136。 拍賣結果比較： 形制：相近 拍賣：紐約佳士得，2007年1月25日， lot 241 價格：GBP 11,400（相當於今日EUR 25,000） 描述：十七至十八世紀羅漢奶油色皂石 專家評論：比較相近的主題和雕刻風格。請注意石座、珊瑚和綠松石鑲嵌，以及尺寸(11.4 厘米)。 拍賣結果比較： 形制：相近 拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2008年3月18日，lot 203 價格：USD 20,000（相當於今日EUR 26,000） 描述：十八世紀清代伏獅羅漢皂石 專家評論：比較非常相近的主題，獅子還頑皮地拉著羅漢的耳環，以及相近的雕刻風格。請注意深紅顏色。
A JADE ‘MUSICIAN’ BELT PLAQUE, TANG DYNASTY 唐代樂俑紋玉帶牌Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價China, 618-907. Of square form with slightly tapered sides, the top finely carved in relief with a musician of Central Asian origin seated on a mat and playing percussion instruments held in each hand. His robe neatly incised with folds, his boots with decorative designs, a scarf swirling around him. The back is pierced for attachment. The partly translucent stone of a white tone with extensive opaque calcification, showing a good surface polish and beautiful luster.Provenance: Collection of Harry Geoffrey Beasley (1881-1939) and thence by descent to his widow Irene Beasley. Collection of Alfred William Cowperthwaite (1890-1964), acquired from the above c. 1939 and thence by descent in the same family. Harry Geoffrey Beasley (1881-1939) was a British anthropologist and museum curator who developed an important ethnographic collection during the early 20th century that is now held in various British museums. With his wife Irene, Beasley set up the Cranmore Ethnographical Museum which eventually held more than 6,000 objects of ethnographical interest. The Beasleys collected objects from across Europe, buying from auction houses and local museums to expand the collection, which contained material from the Pacific, Asia, Africa, and Northwestern America. Beasley wrote numerous articles for anthropological journals and was considered an expert in his field. He died in 1939 and his collection was stored with the British Museum collections during the war, which was fortunate as the Cranmore Museum was destroyed by bombing. After the war substantial portions of the collection were passed to the British Museum, the Royal Museum in Edinburgh, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the University of Cambridge, the Pitt Rivers Museum, and the Merseyside County Museum. Other pieces, such as the present lot, were sold by his widow and, after her death in 1974, by their daughters. Alfred William Cowperthwaite (1890-1964) was a contributor to the Cranmore Museum and became good friends with Harry Beasley. Shortly after Harry Beasley’s death, he acquired a number of objects from Irene Beasley, including the present lot.Condition: Very good condition with expected old wear, tiny nicks and minuscule chips to edges which have smoothened over time. The pierced apertures with remnants of corrosion from ancient metal fittings. Some malachite and cuprite encrustations to the stone in these areas.Weight: 30.5 gDimensions: Size 3.7 x 3.8 cm Plaques such as the present example were produced from the early Tang dynasty in sets to adorn belts, with each plaque variously carved with musicians playing different instruments or as servers bearing tribute. Many of the figures are dressed in Central Asian style, in keeping with the fashion seen on foreigners in the Tang dynasty capital.Literature comparison: Compare two related jade belt plaques decorated with foreign figures playing musical instruments, illustrated in Jadeware (II) - The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1995, pls. 22 and 23. Compare a set of ten belt plaques of this type in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1992.165.22a–j, described as depicting dancers and musicians of Central Asian origin, probably of Kizil ethnicity.Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams London, 12 May 2022, lot 16 Price: GBP 63,300 or approx. EUR 81,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: Two very pale green jade square belt plaques, Tang dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and design. Note that this lot comprises two belt plaques. Note the smaller size (3.9 cm).
A JADE ‘RABBIT’ PENDANT, LATE SHANG TO WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY 商末至西周玉兔佩飾Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價China, 1100-1000 BC. Well carved in a dynamic position with the legs bent underneath, the mouth open, the ears swept backward, and short tail slightly upswept. Pierced through the neck for suspension. The translucent stone of a pale celadon tone with black veins and patches. Note the neatly incised and distinct double-line grooves typical for the late Shang to Western Zhou period.Provenance: Collection of Harry Geoffrey Beasley (1881-1939) and thence by descent to his widow Irene Beasley. Collection of Alfred William Cowperthwaite (1890-1964), acquired from the above c. 1939 and thence by descent in the same family. Harry Geoffrey Beasley (1881-1939) was a British anthropologist and museum curator who developed an important ethnographic collection during the early 20th century that is now held in various British museums. With his wife Irene, Beasley set up the Cranmore Ethnographical Museum which eventually held more than 6,000 objects of ethnographical interest. The Beasleys collected objects from across Europe, buying from auction houses and local museums to expand the collection, which contained material from the Pacific, Asia, Africa, and Northwestern America. Beasley wrote numerous articles for anthropological journals and was considered an expert in his field. He died in 1939 and his collection was stored with the British Museum collections during the war, which was fortunate, as the Cranmore Museum was destroyed by bombing. After the war, substantial portions of the collection were passed to the British Museum, the Royal Museum in Edinburgh, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the University of Cambridge, the Pitt Rivers Museum, and the Merseyside County Museum. Other pieces, such as the present lot, were sold by his widow and, after her death in 1974, by their daughters. Alfred William Cowperthwaite (1890-1964) was a contributor to the Cranmore Museum and became good friends with Harry Beasley. Shortly after Harry Beasley’s death, he acquired a number of objects from Irene Beasley, including the present lot.Condition: Excellent condition with some old wear, expected signs of weathering and erosion, minimal nibbling, losses, encrustations. Remnants of ancient pigment.Weight: 18.5 gDimensions: Length 6.1 cmLiterature comparison:Compare a related jade rabbit with similar double-line grooves, dated to the Shang dynasty, circa 1200-1050 BC, 4 cm long, in the British Museum, registration number 1973,0726.117. Compare a related jade rabbit, dated 11th-10th century BC, 3 cm long, in the Harvard Art Museums, object number 1943.50.305, illustrated in Max Loehr and Louisa G. Fitzgerald Huber, 'Ancient Chinese Jades from the Grenville L. Winthrop Collection in the Fogg Art Museum', Cambridge, 1975, p. 246. cat. no. 365.Auction result comparison: Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 13 September 2019, lot 817Price: USD 52,500 or approx. EUR 58,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A dark green jade rabbit-form pendant, late Shang - early Western Zhou dynasty, 11th-10th centuryExpert remark: Compare the related flat form, pose, and open mouth. Note the smaller size (4.2 cm) and the lack of detailed incisions.Auction result comparison: Type: Remotely relatedAuction: Sotheby’s New York, 22 March 2023, lot 643Price: USD 25,400 or approx. EUR 23,500 converted at the time of writingDescription: An archaic jade 'mythical beast' pendant (Xi), Western Zhou dynasty or laterExpert note: Compare the similar double-line grooves typical for the late Shang to Western Zhou dynasty.
A PALE CELADON AND RUSSET JADE ‘CICADA AND POMEGRANATE’ WATER POT, CHINA, 18TH CENTURY 十八世紀灰白玉雕石榴水盂Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價Naturalistically carved in the form of a pomegranate bursting with seeds, a single cicada resting on the vessel’s peach-formed rim, with its wings tightly folded to the sides, posed ready to drink. The waterpot further carved in relief with a gnarled branch issuing finely veined leaves opposite the stem. The smoothly polished translucent stone is of a pale celadon tone with distinct patches of russet skin and veins.Expert’s note: Fascinatingly, this unusual object was intentionally designed to be displayed like a vase, when not used to hold water. This kind of "double" function was quite popular at the court in Beijing, intriguing viewers with an unexpected and surprising effect.Provenance: This lot comes from an antique shop owner from the north of England. His store sells all kinds of antiques, and people come in with unusual objects all the time, but he has been keeping and collecting Chinese works of art that he particularly likes for a long time. Condition: Very good condition with minor old wear and few microscopic nicks. The stone with natural inclusions and fissures. The surface shows a magnificent polish, rendering an unctuous feel overall.Weight: 152.9 g Dimensions: Width 8.7 cm Fruits encapsulating auspicious messages were highly favored in the 18th century. The pomegranate was especially popular as it symbolized fertility, and the bursting flesh of the fruit, exposing its many seeds inside, symbolized the wish for a large family. As the Chinese character for ‘seed’ (zi) is the same as that for ‘son,’ the many-seeded pomegranate is viewed as a symbol for having multiple sons who are expected to continue the family line. The cicada’s role in Chinese culture is a longstanding and fascinating one. Meanings associated with the insect range from simply indicating the onset of summer to more complex themes, such as rebirth and immortality. In general Chinese lore, cicadas are creatures of high status. They are considered pure because of their perch in high treetops. An ancient analogy in China suggests that a high-ranking official should resemble a cicada: residing high, eating a pure diet, and with sharp eyes. Also in antiquity, the headgear of rulers incorporated a golden image of a cicada with prominent eyes. The emblem signaled refinement, modesty, and a full awareness of one’s surroundings.Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s London, 15 May 2013, lot 58 Price: GBP 32,500 or approx. EUR 58,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A pale celadon jade ‘pomegranate’ waterpot, Qing dynasty, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of carving, and color.Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 31 May 2017, lot 13 Price: HKD 150,000 or approx. EUR 19,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A white and russet jade ‘pomegranate and cicada’ carving, Qing dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, also with a cicada, manner of carving, and color with similar bright russet inclusions in the stone. Note that this lot has bruises and was later converted into a snuff bottle. 十八世紀灰白玉雕石榴水盂玉質色澤微灰，有赭斑。全器雕石榴一枝，結有果實，石榴中空為盂，以蒂為口，枝葉均鏤空雕琢，石榴上停有一蟬。 來源：這件拍品來自一位來自英格蘭北部的古董店店主的收藏。店裡賣各種各樣的古董，總是有人拿著不尋常的東西進來，但店主一直保留和收藏他特別喜歡的中國藝術品。 品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損和一些微小的劃痕。具有天然內沁和裂縫的玉石，表面光滑瑩潤。 重量：152.9 克 尺寸：寬 8.7 厘米 拍賣比較： 形制：非常相近 拍賣：倫敦蘇富比，2013年5月15日，lot 58 價格：GBP 32,500（相當今日EUR 58,000） 描述：清十八世紀青白玉「榴開百子」水盂 專家註釋：比較非常相近的外形，雕刻風格和顏色。 拍賣比較： 形制：相近 拍賣：香港蘇富比，2017年5月31日，lot 13 價格：HKD 150,000（相當今日EUR 19,500） 描述：清白玉榴開百子擺件 專家註釋：比較非常相近主題，雕刻風格，以及相似的白玉留皮。請注意此後來改成鼻煙壺。
AN ARCHAIC YELLOW & RUSSET JADE DRAGON PENDANT, EASTERN ZHOU DYNASTY 東周黃玉龍紋佩Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價Opinion: The quality of this example is perhaps most visible when images of the right and left sides are viewed simultaneously, because only then it becomes apparent how much care was given by the craftsman to ensure that the spiral c-scroll clouds were laid out in an identical fashion. The quality is further personified by the rare color of the jade and the magnificent polish.China, 6th-4th century BC. Carved in the form of a sinuous dragon, with head turned looking back, the s-shaped body with spirals carved in relief. The translucent stone of a fine yellow tone with russet shadings at the edges.Provenance: Collection of Pierre Lallier. Pierre Lallier (1946-2021) was a master printer, having run the famous Atelier Georges Leblanc since 1968. He was also a passionate scholar and committed private collector, spending nearly half a century of his life building his private collection. He started at the age of 12, perusing the Parisian flea markets with his father, extensively researching every piece of interest, while also confirming its dating and provenance. He loved his objects, cherished them, and never wanted to part with them.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few minuscule nicks, some of which have smoothened over time. Natural inclusions and fissures.Weight: 21.9 gDimensions: Length 8 cmJade, known as the ‘Stone of Heaven’, represents wisdom, beauty, courage, and perfection. This combined with the powerful iconography of the dragon, creates a strong symbol of luck and good fortune. Jades in this form have a long tradition of being used as ritualistic objects, in particular tokens of rank and symbolic aids for the celestial journey thought to be undertaken by the dead. In the Zhou dynasty, the number of ritualistic jades increased significantly in burial sites, as multiple plaques, pendants, and beads were draped over the face and body of the deceased.Literature comparison: Refer to Michael Gulbenkian’s article Archaic Jades, Arts of Asia, May-June 1983, where the carved c-scroll cloud motif is used as a methodology to date archaic jades.Auction result comparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 May 2017, lot 2719Price: HKD 1,860,000 or approx. EUR 239,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing.Description: A white jade dragon-form pendant, Warring States period (475-221 BC)Expert remark: This comparable shows another iteration of the same design. Particular attention should be paid to the depiction of the lower jaw and snout of the dragon as they are executed in the same manner. While the primary color of the stone is of a different hue, the Christie’s pendant also has an attractive russet tinge around the outer edges, possibly signifying that both these ‘pendants’ were carved from pebbles just slightly larger than their finished size.Auction result comparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 2 December 2021, lot 2702Price: HKD 687,500 or approx. EUR 82,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing.Description: A group of three jade dragon form pendants, late Spring and Autumn period, circa 570-476 BCExpert remark: The first pendant in the lot is part of a closely related group of archaic jades that includes our pendant. While the color of the chosen stone is just as attractive, there is a clear demarcation between the two pieces. Christie’s carving is clearly a work of art, but it is not accompanied by the same level of quality or beauty as our pendant. It is also worth noting the placement and number of suspension apertures on each of the three Christie’s pendants. Looking at the multiple examples simultaneously shows that these are later-added features, as they are either off-center or through part of the carved design, and so these features should not be taken into account when assessing such ‘pendants’ as this was not their original function.
Unleash the prehistoric excitement with the Hanna-Barbera Series 2 Action Figure featuring a sealed Captain Caveman! Witness Captain Caveman in an electrifying pose, armed with his trusty club, accompanied by a triceratops, all set on a captivating island base for an adventure-filled display that will transport you back to the Stone Age! This item has its original box. Dimensions of the box: 9.5"L x 9.25"W x 3.25"H. Issued: 2006Manufacturer: McFarlane ToysCondition: Age related wear.
Three Ottoman silver rings from the 19th century. All with beautiful, engraved stones. The brownish stone is an Agate and bears the names from Ahl al-Bayt. Which means the House of the Prophet. The inscriptions are: "Allah, Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussein" The ring is large size 4 by 3 cm and weighs 24.14 gr. The second has a Lapis Lazuli Stone with Arabic writing and has a silver mounted pen work design. It weighs 21.18 gr. The third shows a sparrow figure carved in a Lapis Lazuli stone, also with a silver mounted with pencil work design. It weighs 21,47 gr.
A very old Islamic silver ring dating back to the 17th-18th century. It carries a large jade stone. On the stone verse 4 of Surat Al-Talaq is engraved. "And whoever fears God, He will make a way out for him and provide for him from where he does not expect it. And whoever relies on God, He is sufficient for him. Indeed, God has accomplished His command. God has given everything a command. Period: 17-18th century Dimensions:2 by 2,5 cm, ring 2 cm Condition: In a very good condition
Early 20th century gold single stone oval cut sapphire, suspending from a pearl and diamond set pendant, on trace link chain necklace, stamped 15ct, sapphire approx 3.15 caratCondition Report:Approx 3.4gm, also tested 15ct, pendant length = 4cm, chain length = 41cm, pearl missing from top of pendant otherwise good condition, sapphire with silk and feather inclusions
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