An exceptionally large jadeite Guanyin Late Qing Dynasty

THIS IS A PREMIUM LOT. CLIENTS WHO WISH TO BID ON PREMIUM LOTS ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE THE PREMIUM LOT PRE-REGISTRATION 3 WORKING DAYS PRIOR TO THE SALE.



the serene figure standing barefoot with a gentle sway to one side, dressed in a long volumnous robe opened at the chest, the drapery falling in deep folds over the right arm holding a scroll, the gentle face with downcast eyes framed by a chignon and two braids falling to either side of her shoulders, the rich translucent apple-green stone with areas of natural russet inclusions, wood stand, box

Mrs. Charles Nott.

Stanley Charles Nott, Voices from the Flowery Kingdom, New York, 1947, pl. LXXIV.

Most jadeite with fine emerald coloring is turned into jewelry.  Larger pieces with a variegated coloring are often carved into decorative items.   It is very rare to find jadeite figures of such large proportions and fine jadeite stone quality.  Compare a slightly smaller figure of 46.3cm of Magu holding a jia wine vessel in the National Museum of History, Taipei, illustrated in The Jade Carving of the Ch'ing Dynasty, Taipei, 1990, pp. 108-109. 

Jadeite only was introduced to China in the late 18th century from Burma.  Qianlong waged a disasterous campaign into Burma in 1765-1770, where is troops succumbed to tropical diseases and sweltering temperatures.  However, his defeat did not stop his quest for jadeite.  In 1769, a peace treaty was drawn up between the King of Burma and the Qianlong Emperor. In exchange for peace, the Burmese would offer the Emperor jadeite.  But it was not until 1788, when the first tributes from Burma finally arrived in Peking, thus opening up the Jade Road from Burma and supplying China with jadeite up through to the present day.