Vase impérial en jade céladon avec inclusions rouille Chine, dynastie Qing, époque Qianlong (1736-1795)

sculpté de façon très élaborée en forme d'un grand lotus et champignon de longévité lingzhi, deux dragons archaïques qilong escaladant les pétales de la fleur, la tête de l'un s'appuyant sur le rebord du vase son corps formant une anse, la pierre d'une belle teinte céladon veinée d'inclusions rouille exploitées par le sculpteur pour accentuer l'impact visuel de la composition, avec un socle original en bois et ivoire teinté vert, détails d'arabesques en fil de métal

Collection Logé.
Etude Ader Picard Tajan, vente Drouot 18 octobre 1976, lot 108 (illustré en couverture du catalogue).

Musée Cernuschi, mars 1927 no.1237 et avril 1929.

A natural crack 2,5cm to the rim and a shallow chip 0,9mm, otherwise good. The stand with one of the stained ivory detail chipped, otherwise in good condition.
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.

This exceptionally carved and beautifully finished vase takes its form and decoration after smaller rhinoceros horn libation cups. As with the majority of jade carvings this vase appears to be a unique piece and no other close example can be found recorded.
For the inspiration of this vessel see a horn cup in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, illustrated in Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999, pls. 205 and 206, decorated with large lingzhi fungus issuing from a stem curling around the base and extending on the body and two sinuous qilong with long curling bifurcated tails climbing up the sides. Another rhinoceros horn cup carved with a related decorative motif, in the Gerard Levy collection, Paris, is included ibid., pl. 204, where the stem is used as a handle; and a third example of this type, previously from the Desmond Gure and Arthur M. Sackler collections, was sold at Christie's New York, 1^st December 1994, lot 21, and again at the same location, 20^th September 2002, lot 127.
The sacred lingzhi fungus is an especially important symbol of immortality and vessels decorated in this manner may have been presented as a birthday gift.