A SUPERB AND RARE CARVED WHITE JADE CUP AND CUPSTAND TOGETHER WITH ITS ORIGINAL FITTED STAND QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

the cup of hexagonal section with steep, subtly lobed sides supported on a foot of conforming section and rising to an everted rim, each facet delicately and skilfully carved on the exterior, with a peach spray and bat, peony sprig, banana leaf and a ruyi sceptre, lotus and prunus blossoms, the last facet with two seals each with the characters Jixiang ruyi, the stand of conforming hexagonal section with a stylised shou roundel to the centre encircled by a keyfret band, the stone of a translucent celadon white tone and finished with a smooth polish, with a finely and pierced hardwood stand

The cup is in excellent condition, with minor polishing down to two tiny edges of the foot ring. The cupstand with a clear inclusion and two semi-russet veins on the 'shou' raised roundel at the centre. Two negligible nibbles on the edge of the rim. One tiny nick, barely noticeable, at the foot ring and one tiny chip to the recessed base. The wood stand is in good condition, with expected wear and minor chips to the edges.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This jade cup and stand is exceptional for the superb quality of the material which is of a flawless and even white colouration. The carved decoration is expertly placed and kept simple, possibly to enhance the beauty of the material. No other similar example appears to be recorded; however, in its form and decoration the cup and the stand are closely related to the imperial white jade teapot, sold at Christie's Paris, 14^th June 2006, lot 107.

The Qianlong emperor's jade collection surpassed that of any of his predecessors in both quality and quantity. His contribution to the improvement of jade crafting techniques and the connoisseurship of jade is undoubtedly remarkable. He insisted on examining every piece of jade presented to him and categorized them by shape, colour, quality and style. Material used for the making of the present cup and stand most probably came from the jade-rich territories of Khotan and Yarkand, an area opened after the Qing army's conquest of the north-western territories. Jade imported from this Central Asian region was of the highest quality allowing carvers in the Palace to finally produce wares of the purest and brightest white colouration.

The majority of cups extant today have been separated from their original cupstands, therefore it is unusual to find a cup with its matching cupstand and its fitted stand. The hardwood stand is a fine piece of carving in its own right and confirms the importance of the vessel it was made for. For an example of a Qianlong white jade cup and cupstand see James C.Y. Watt, Chinese Jades from Han to Ch'ing, New York, 1980, pl. 147.

Cups and stands of the Qianlong period were often inspired by earlier Ming examples. For example see a Ming cup with two handles and with a matching cupstand of related hexagonal form, from the Sammy Chow Collection, illustrated ibid., pl. 146. Another hexagonal-form jade cup with an animal-shaped handle, similarly attributed to the Ming dynasty, from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Jadeware (II), Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 192.