A FINELY CARVED AND VERY RARE WHITE JADE 'DRAGON' VASE QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

of flattened pear-shape rising to waisted neck and lipped rim, each side finely carved in low relief with a ferocious and powerful five-clawed dragon leaping amidst jagged flames, the dragon with large horns and long whiskers above gaping jaws, its scaly body twisting and writhing with its clawed limbs outstretched below a 'flaming pearl' at the neck, flanked at the neck by a pair of handles elegantly modelled as phoenix, the plumage picked out with fine incisions, all supported on a flared foot of oval section carved with a raised keyfret band, the translucent stone of an even white tone throughout with small areas of opaque inclusions  

An American Collection formed in the 1940s.

The footrim has a shallow 5mm chip and another 5mm bruise and attendant 1 cm faint hairline crack. The foot and the vase were made separately and locked together (now glued). The stone has a few white inclusions. The actual colour is very slightly greener than in the catalogue illustration.
"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."

Imperial white jade vases carved with a single full-faced five-clawed dragon such as the present vase are extremely rare. Stylistically, this vase follows closely porcelain vases - often moonflasks painted or carved with a frontal dragon and for the most part produced during the Qianlong period. Compare for example a celadon-glazed moonflask carved with a full-faced dragon and with a Qianlong mark sold in these rooms, 1st November 1999, lot 356, and the copper-red and blue decorated moonflask, sold in these rooms, 31st October 2004, lot 24.  

One covered vase in the Palace Museum Beijing, which possibly pre-dates the present vase, is also carved with a full-faced leaping dragon, but the dragon depicted only bears three claws, see Jadeware (III). The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 69.  Compare also a white jade vase carved with a full-faced dragon leaping amid floral scrolls and the bajixiang, from the Vint family collection and sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 3rd December 2008, lot 2606.  Archaistic dragons after ancient bronzes are more often encountered on jade, see for example a white jade vase with intertwined dragons illustrated in Zhongguo yuqi quanji, vol.6, Shijiazhuang, 1993, pl.182.

Depictions of full-frontal five-clawed dragons whether on lacquer, porcelain, textiles, zitan or architectural elements were the most conspicuous symbols of Imperial authority during the Qing dynasty.  The five-clawed dragon is symbolic of the Emperor and the pairing of dragons and flaming pearl that adorns this vase appears to represent a combination of elements from two separate traditions, the dragon from Chinese mythology and the jewel from Buddhist iconography. Often referred to as a pearl in English, the jewel derives from the Buddhist ruyi baozhu, a talismanic wish-granting jewel that symbolises transcendent wisdom and can grant every wish, and the flames symbolise its magical powers. Expanding upon Buddhist tradition, Chinese lore maintains that the magical jewel is obtained not only from the relics of a Buddha, but from the dragon-king of the sea or from the head of the mythical hybrid creature known as a makara. The motif of dragon-and-pearl thus associates the dragon with knowledge and supernatural powers, which was highly suited to the emperor, whose status was said to be heaven-endowed.