Rare rhyton en jade céladon sculpté Chine, dynastie Ming ou antérieur

la coupe jaillissant de la gueule d'un dragon figurant le pied, à décor finement sculpté d'une large frise à motifs géométriques encadrée par deux fines cordelettes en relief, le col souligné d'une délicate frise d'entrelacs, la pierre d'une belle teinte uniforme au doux poli, trois étiquettes jaunes

The vessel is in good overall 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. 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 form of the present rhyton is based on traditional horn-shaped cups first introduced to China in the Han dynasty. However, the bifurcated twisted neck turned back on itself to form the handle as seen on this piece is a feature that appears on rhytons carved from the Song dynasty onwards. A number of jade rhytons of similar horn shape issuing from the head of a fabulous horned beast are known, many of them dated to the Song or Yuan dynasty. Compare, for instance, a rhyton with a design of dragons clambering across the body, included in the Exhibition of Chinese Jades, The Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1948, cat.no. 118; for another rhyton dated to the Song or Yuan dynasty and in fomerly in the Avery Brundage Collection, see John Ayers and Jessica Rawson (eds.), Chinese Jade throughout the Ages, Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1975, cat.no. 309; compare also a rhyton formerly in the collection of the British Rail Pension Fund, sold Sotheby's Hong Kong, 16th May 1989, lot 93; for a third rhyton in the Collection of Sir Joseph Hotung, see Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jades from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, cat.no. 29:8.