A finely carved imperial white jade archaistic vase, gu, Yongzheng-Qianlong period (1723-1795). Estimate £60,000 - £80,000 ($92,760 - $123,680). Price Realized £74,500 ($114,805). Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015
The bulbous mid-section of the vase is finely carved with taotie masks, with stylised archaistic blades encircling the lobed neck and foot. The stone is of an even pale tone. 6 in. (15.2 cm.) high
Provenance: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 25 April 2004, lot 110.
Christie's London, 15 May 2007, lot 366.
Exhibited: Art and Imitation in China, The Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong, 14-17 October 2006, Catalogue, p. 138, pl. 27.
Note: The current vase imitates the shape and design of earlier Shang or Western Zhou dynasty bronzes. It was produced at a time when archaism became popular in the Qing court, particularly during the Qianlong reign. Compare this to a similar white jade gu, illustrated in Zhongguo Yuqi Shangjian, Hong Kong, 1996, pl. 631. See also a related green jadegu and a variation with flanges, see Jadeware (III) - The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1995, pls. 130 and 131.
Christie's. APPRECIATING ELEGANCE: ART FROM THE SUI YUAN ZHAI COLLECTION, 11 May 2015, London, King Street