Vase double carpe en jade jaune sculpté Chine, dynastie Qing, époque Qianlong (1736-1795)

composé de deux carpes affrontées, la carpe-dragon archaïsante aux yeux exorbités et à la gueule entrouverte, la seconde plus petite, toutes deux émergeant de flots tumultueux à la poursuite de la perle enflammée parmi des ruyi stylisés, les nageoires et les écailles finement sculptées

There are possibly two small polished chips to the fin of the smaller fish on the reverse side of the illustration, a few other minor nicks or tiny bruises along the edges but overall the group is in very good condition. There are some original russet and milky inclusions in the stone as visible on the photo. The actual colour is a little bit darker and going towards the celadon than the illustration would suggest in the catalogue.
"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."

The present piece is notable for its dynamic and crisply carved depiction of two fish which skilfully capture a sense of movement and power while retaining the fine detail and finished surface that were appreciated by jade connoisseurs of the Qing dynasty. The robust forms of the creatures and broadly formed waves of water draw attention to the yellow jade stone from which it has been fashioned; a material that was particularly treasured by the Qianlong emperor.

Jade vases carved with this subject include a slightly smaller example, also carved from yellow jade but depicting two dragon carps, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 28^th October 1992, lot 606; a slightly larger green jade vase sold in our New York rooms, 11^th April 1986, lot 229, and again at Christie's Hong Kong, 27^th November 2007, lot 155, from the collection of Alan and Simone Hartman; one of this size and also carved from yellow jade, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1^st April 1992, lot 1224; and a larger vase sold in our New York rooms, 25^th February 1983, lot 257, and again in our London rooms, 6^th June 1995, lot 50. See also a remarkable yellow jade vase of this type, the russet tones of the stone cleverly incorporated into the composition, included in the exhibition Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1975, cat. no. 421, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 9^th October 2007, lot 1210; and another of spinach-green jade, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 49.

This dynamic carving captures the carp's moment of transformation from a fish into a dragon upon swimming upstream in the Yellow River and leaping the rapids of the Dragon Gate. This feat was a popular pictorial subject as it is a metaphor for a scholar who passes the civil examinations and thus transforms into a high official.