A White Jade Rhyton Qing Dynasty, 17th / 18th Century

of characteristic trumpet form and oval section rising from three short feet, finely carved to the flattened sides with four archaistic zoomorph bearing phoenix heads, with a sinuous qilong climbing up one side peering over the mouthrim, the opposite side carved in high-relief with a qilong head, its flaring openwork wings and scrolls flattening to low-relief from the beast's head to the vessel's side, interwoven with a pair of keyfret bands, the pale stone with white inclusions, wood stand (2)

Purchased from Louis Joseph, London, 1st December 1963.

The rhyton is in good overall condition with just very minor nicks along the edge of the mouthrim. There is one shallow nick to the inside of the left mouthrim (when face to face with the climbing qilong). The color of the jade is very well matched to the catalogue image.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Rhytons, or vessels in the shape of a horn, were popular from the Song to the Qing dynasties. The carved archaistic scrollwork rendered in low-relief, as seen on this present example, is a feature often found among these works and reinforces the trend common during these periods of recreating the sensibilities of earlier 'antique' styles.

An example of a jade rhyton with meticulously carved archaistic motifs in imitation of a bronze vessel is illustrated in The Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jade of the Ch'ing Court, Taipei, 1986, pl. 34. Another with a simpler scrollwork band, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 136. For a discussion on these wares, see Laurance P. Roberts, "Chinese Jades", Orientations, April 1991, p. 52.