A FINE AND RARE CELADON JADE WASHER QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

beautifully carved as a large curled leaf, the well-hollowed interior with ribbed lobes culminating in an elegantly curled stem, the underside finely carved with a central chrysanthemum flower issuing leafy tendrils and a second flower enveloping and reaching over the rim, the well-polished stone a pale celadon tone with russet skin inclusions together with a wooden stand carved and pierced with peonies and rock work.

The washer is in good condition with one old chip on the rim, approximately 1/8 inch and now softened with age.
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.

The design and form of this elegant jade washer may have been inspired by jades which originated in Hindustan in the Mughal period and are known as 'Mughal' jades. Originally brought to the Qing court under the Qianlong emperor, they were subsequently copied by Chinese craftsmen who adapted elements and forms into their own jade working repertoire. In terms of shape, the washer represents a digression from the thinly carved Mughal pieces and is closely related to the half-gourd-shaped cups whose handles sometimes similarly end in elegantly curled stalks. See, for example, an example in the National Palace Museum Collection in Taipei, Taiwan, published in Catalogue of a Special Exhibition of Hindustan Jade in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1983, pp. 170-171, pl. 23. Another distinctive feature this washer shares with the finest of Mughal jades is its tactile appeal evident in the smoothly finished and glowing surface.