Lot 137
East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. A marvel of archaizing craftsmanship, this white nephrite jade rhyton evokes the ceremonial vessels of the Shang and Zhou dynasties while showcasing the refined tastes of the Qing literati elite. The vessel's asymmetrical mouth flares upward like a blossoming trumpet flower, its lip sharply curled as if in mid-pour. Carved in the round from a single stone, the rhyton sits on a sculptural base formed by the sinuous body of a chilong dragon curling downward into the elegant head of a bird - likely a phoenix, the mythical queen of all birds and symbol of celestial harmony. The white stone, gently translucent and creamy in tone, is animated by softly incised scrollwork and cloudlike motifs, their grooves stained by time or design to enhance their visual depth. A border of diagonal hatching runs along the rim, evoking ancient bronze patterns. Size: 2.8" L x 2.5" W x 5.4" H (7.1 cm x 6.4 cm x 13.7 cm)
The dragon's body, pierced and contoured with naturalistic vitality, coils protectively around the base, while the phoenix head below, its hooked beak and feathered crest stylized with restrained flair, gazes upward in solemn grace. Though its form harks back to ritual libation vessels (known as guang or gong) of the late Shang and early Western Zhou periods (ca. 1200 to 771 BCE), this example was almost certainly produced during the Qing dynasty, when archaistic revivalism flourished under the patronage of emperors and scholar-collectors alike. Small in scale and exquisite in detail, the vessel was likely created for display in a scholar's studio or treasured as part of an imperial collection, embodying both reverence for antiquity and mastery of the jade carver's art.
Provenance: ex-T.F. Holy Lands collection, formed since the 1960s
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#196018
- Condition: Some light abrasions and minor nicks, commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and very nice with liberal remaining detail and earthen encrustations in recessed areas.
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