A Massive Chinese Spinach-Green Jade Mountain Carving, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period, 1736-95, 19.5cm high, 28cm wide, with a reticulated wood stand. Well carved, depicting three figures riding mules with a single attendant, all on a mountain pass beneath a large gnarled pine tree. Two further mules can be seen resting beneath trees and in the rocks above, castle fortifications are visible below cloud cover. The reverse shows two figures, one carrying a burden on a pole all amongst further rocks and trees. Bears a paper label for Spink & Son Ltd. Provenance; A private collection in Monaco, purchased at Spink & Son Ltd., before 1982. Catalogue Note; Cf. J. C. S. Lin, The Immortal Stone, The Fitzwilliam Museum, cat. no.89 for a smaller related spinach-green jade mountain carving, the catalogue note states `Spinach-coloured jade pebbles as boulders were found on the riverbeds in the Xinjiang area and were carved with landscape scenes`. Another, from the collection of Miss H. E. Ionides was exhibited at The International Exhibition of Chinese Art, The Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1935/6 catalogue no. 2785.
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A Rare Chinese Jade Inscribed Boulder Carving, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period 1736-95, incised with a poem, and with five seal marks including Qianlong Chenhan, 18.5cm high, 15.3cm wide. Worked from a pale celadon coloured stone with honey brown striations, and carved with a solitary Luohan, sitting in a rocky outcrop and wearing loose flowing robes decorated with a geometric pattern. The Luohan, is about to open a hand-scroll, he has left his shoes at the front of the base. The rocks are inscribed with six columns of calligraphy including one rectangular, and four square seal marks, the calligraphy with traces of gilding. The poem reads: `Liao Yi Qie Fa, Can Ru Shi Jing, Shui Liu Shi Leng, Feng Guo Hua Xin, Shi Hu Lun Di, Shi Guang Ming Zang, Li Yi Sao Chu, Shi Wei Li Zhang`. The lower section is inscribed: `Di Shi San Wei Ba Na Ta Ga Zun Zhe` (the thirteenth Luohan Banata) The seals read: `Ta Ge (the chamber of Ta), `Ying Chu Lan Xiang`, `Hui Yue Se ? You Sheng, `Wei Jing Wei Yi`, `Qian Long Chen Han`. Provenance A private collection in Monaco, purchased at Spink & Son Ltd., before 1982. With thanks to Ching-Yi Huang of SOAS for her help in cataloguing this lot.
A Fine Chinese Imperial, Lapis Lazuli Small Mountain Carving Inscribed with a Poem by the Qianlong Emperor, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period, 1736-95, and incised with a poem, 9.8cm high, 13cm wide, (14cm including the stand). Exquisitely carved with a single hut beneath two trees all beneath a mountain, and with six columns of calligraphy above a solitary figure on a flat stone ledge, which crosses a gushing river. The poem reads: `Yu Zhi Xu Ting Na Cui n, Xu Ting Ruo Yi Ju Chui Yi Ceng Bu Chuang Ling, Mian Mian Shi Zuo Zhe Ying Zhi You Bie Jie Tu Ta Feng Cui Na Wu Yi`. This poem, by the Qianlong Emperor is listed in his poetry collection Yu Zhi Shi Ji, Volumn III, no.99. The term `Xu Ting` is a certain type of pavilion often seen in Chinese gardens. In the Imperial gardens there must have been many `Xu Ting`, as this is not the only time that the Qianlong Emperor mentions `Xu Ting` in his poems. Provenance A private collection in Monaco, purchased at Spink & Son Ltd., 31st July 1967 for £540. Catalogue Note; Cf. Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages, an Exhibition organised by the Arts Council of Great Britain and the Oriental Ceramic Society, 1975, p.20, no,494, for another lapis lazuli mountain carving from the Avery Brundage Collection in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. See also Zhongguo yuqi quanji, vol. 6, Shijiazhuang, for another lapis lazuli carved boulder in the Palace Museum, Beijing, 1993, pls. 262 and 263 and another in the Le Shou Tan, (Hall of Joyful Longevity). See also the catalogue note to lot 342. With thanks to Ching-Yi Huang of SOAS for her help in cataloguing this lot.
A Fine and Rare Chinese Imperial Lapis Lazuli Vase, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period, 1736-95, with a later gilt bronze stand,19.2cm (23.5cm including the stand). The body diamond-shaped, crisply carved with a wide band of taotie around the middle. From one corner luscious boldly sculptured Rhodea japonica leaves rise covering two sides of the vase. The ormolu stand well cast as a leafy pomegranate branch growing from rocks and issuing a single ripe fruit. Exhibited; The International Exhibition of Chinese Art, The Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1935/6 catalogue no. 2906. Chinese Jade Throughout The Ages, an exhibition organised by the Arts Council of Great Britian and the Oriental Ceramic Society, May-June 1975, Victoria and Albert Museum, no. 495. Provenance Prince Henry, the 1st Duke of Gloucester. The collection of Miss H. E. Ionides, London. The Hon. Mrs Mary Anna Marten OBE, Crichel House, Dorset. Purchased prior to 1953. Illustrated; Chinese Art: The Minor Arts II, Soame Jenyns, p.238, no.162, where it is described as of `superlative colour and important size`, and also Chinese Jade Throughout The Ages, The Arts Council of Great Britain and The Oriental Ceramic Society, July 1975, catalogue number 495. Catalogue Note; In China, lapis lazuli is known as qing jin shi (blue-gold stone). Although lapis beads have been excavated which date to the Han dynasty, there are no records of the use of lapis before the Qing dynasty. Cf. Ming Wilson, The Colour of Stones, Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society 1997-98, vol.62. p.34. Soame Jenyns notes that the stone was imported from Tibet, and that the Emperor officiating at the Temple of Heaven wore a rosary of lapis lazuli beads. In reference to the use of Rhodea japonica, Terese Tse Bartholomew, in her book, Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art, writes: "The Chinese name for this sturdy evergreen is `ten thousand year green` (wannianqing). It is thus a pun for `ten thousand years` or `ten thousand`. Another name for this plant is `auspicious grass` (jixiang cao). The bright green leaves symbolize continued growth and happiness, while the clusters of berries - which are red, an auspicious colour - stand for numerous descendants. All these qualities make Rhodea japonica an auspicious plant for the household, especially during the Chinese New Year. It is still a favourite houseplant, and a welcome gift for house-warmings, birthdays, weddings and new business ventures." Ionides Family; The Ionides were a Greek merchant family who lived in London. They were generous patrons of artists. The father Alexander Constantine Ionides (1810-1890) and his children Constantine (1833-1900), Aglaia Coronio (1834-1906), Lucas (`Luke`) Ionides (1837-1924) and Alexander (1840-1898) were all art collectors.
A Fine and Rare Chinese Lapis Lazuli Oval Bowl or Brush Washer, Qing Dynasty, 18th century, 13.6cm. The bowl with an undulating rim, the sides finely carved with a continuous band of ten lingzhi fungi issuing from a single tuft above which a bat flies. The base with three simple stump feet. The stone of a good colour and speckled with gold. Provenance The Hon. Mrs Mary Anna Marten OBE, Crichel House, Dorset. Purchased from John Sparks Ltd., 128 Mount Street, 7th June 1961 for £500.Catalogue Note; The lingzhi fungus has great medicinal qualities and was believed to be able to revive the dead, thus it is called the fungus of immortality. It is found in every medium in Chinese art. Ling is also a pun for `age`. Together with the bat, fu, it can be interpreted as `may your mind be clear when blessings arrive`.
An Extremely Rare Chinese Jade Carving of a Crouching Cat, Qing Dynasty, 18th/19th century, 18cm long, 10.8cm high. Poised with his eyes to the front, intently watching and with his front paws tucked beneath his chest. The pale celadon coloured stone finely incised to simulate fur. The yellow glass eyes later additions. Provenance The Hon. Mrs Mary Anna Marten OBE, Crichel House, Dorset. Purchased by Lieutenant-Commander George Gosselin Marten from John Sparks Ltd., 128 Mount Street, on 16th March 1959 for £1,300. Catalogue Note; The Chinese name for `cat`, mao, is homophonous with the word for `age eighty to ninety`. The cat is thus a symbol of longevity.
A Fine Chinese Jade Large Oval Bowl, Qing Dynasty, 18th/early 19th century, 23.8cm long, 16.1cm wide, 6cm high. The pale celadon coloured stone crisply carved with a single band at the rim and with two crisp lion mask handles. The base with four simple curved panel feet. Provenance The Hon. Mrs Mary Anna Marten OBE, Crichel House, Dorset. Purchased prior to 1953.
The Son of Heaven`s Jade Elephants. An Exceptional and Highly Important pair of Chinese Imperial Jade Elephants from a Throne-room group of the Emperor Qianlong. Each with a Qianlong four character reign mark and of the period 1736ð95, each 19cm long, 17cm high (total weight 12kg approx.) Each beast stands four square and with its head turned slightly to the side, the ears incised with veining, the eyes crisply incised above trunks which extend about their feet. The grey-green stone flecked with golden-brown striations. Provenance The Hon. Mrs Mary Anna Marten OBE, Crichel House, Dorset. Catalogue Note; An almost identical pair of Qianlong jade elephants from the Forbidden City, but with cloisonne saddle fittings and carrying vases, were exhibited at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney Australia in 2007 and are illustrated by Liu Yang in the exhibition catalogue Translucent World, no.109. These examples are also illustrated by Ho & Bronson, cf. Splendors of China`s Forbidden City, the Glorious Reign of the Emperor Qianlong, p.51, where Hu Desheng, describing Qianlong`s thrones, states: `The set usually consists of a throne in the centre, a screen at the back; and on either side of the throne, an elephant statue with a vase on its back (symbolizing peace), a standing fan, a luduan unicorn statue, and a vertical censer. This assemblage is commonly referred to as the `throne-room group.` See also: China, The Three Emperors 1662ð1795, p.391, where throne furniture and settings are also discussed. In China, the elephant is a symbol of strength, astuteness and happiness. They existed in China during the bronze age, but like the rhinoceros, soon were hunted to extinction. In the Ming dynasty, there were stables in the Forbidden City for the elephants that were given as gifts to the Ming emperors from the rulers of Burma. During the Qing Dynasty elephants carrying vases on their backs appeared in processions to celebrate the Emperor Qianlong`s birthday, and so these massive quadrupeds continued to be a popular subject for portrayal in the decorative arts. The Qing rulers commissioned jade elephants in formal standing poses, which were paired and placed flanking the Imperial thrones. For other examples of jade elephants, cf. Chinese Jade, Spink & Son Ltd., London, 1998, no. 23 for a spinach-green jade elephant, from the Estate of Empress Friedrich, Schloss Friedrichshof, and Alex Kerr, Immortal Images. The Jade Collection of Margaret and Trammell Crow, Dallas, 1989, p. 41. For another elephant from The Concordia House Collection, cf. Sotheby`s New York, 19th March 2007 lot 9, and Stanley Nott illustrates a grey elephant dated to the Qianlong period in the collection of Oscar Raphael Esq. pl. LXX. Stanley Charles Nott, in his Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages, records: `an exceptional pair of such carvings in the private collection of Her Majesty Queen Mary` and comments: `These specimens are obviously the work of the Imperial workshops of the Ch`ien Lung period`. Cf. The International Exhibition of Chinese Art, The Royal Academy of Arts, London 1935/6 catalogue no. 2328, where these elephants were illustrated.
A large Chinese square stone panel, the surface carved with calligraphy including the date for the second year of Sui gong corresponding to 686AD, the sides with stylized leaf scroll, possibly Tang dynasty, together with a glass top and plinth, to be used as a side table, 38.8cm. (3) Provenance: purchased from Arch Angel Antiques, Hong Kong.
A collection of jewellery to include; a five stone diamond ring in 18ct yellow gold, weight 3gms, a coral and sapphire ring in 18ct yellow gold, weight 2.2gms, a 9ct gold shield shaped fob weight 4.7gms, two bar brooches, one with central red stone, along with a single strand imitation pearl necklace, an RAF badge etc
A collection of jewellery, to include; A Danish silver brooch in the form of leaves and berries, stamped `John L, 830S, Denmark`, a purple stone set cabochon necklace, a pair of decorative drop earrings, a string of agate beads, a string if cultured pearls, a coral and seed pearl brooch, etc
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