AN IMPRESSIVE JADEITE ARCHAISTIC CENSER AND COVER LATE 19TH / EARLY 20TH CENTURY

THIS IS A PREMIUM LOT. CLIENTS WHO WISH TO BID ON PREMIUM LOTS MAY BE REQUESTED BY SOTHEBY'S TO COMPLETE THE PRE-REGISTRATION APPLICATION FORM AND TO DELIVER TO SOTHEBY'S A DEPOSIT OF HK$1,000,000, OR SUCH OTHER HIGHER AMOUNT AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY SOTHEBY'S, AND ANY FINANCIAL REFERENCES, GUARANTEES AND/OR SUCH OTHER SECURITY AS SOTHEBY'S MAY REQUIRE IN ITS ABSOLUTE DISCRETION AS SECURITY FOR THEIR BID. THE BIDnow ONLINE BIDDING SERVICE IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR PREMIUM LOTS.



carved in the form of the archaic vessel fangding, the tapering rectangular body supported on four taotie heads projecting angular legs and scrolling feet, rising to a square-cut rim set with two arched handles pierced in openwork with a ruyi, each side skilfully carved in shallow relief with a large taotie mask flanked on the sides by two descending mythical beasts with bifid tails, below a band of two confronted stylised kui dragons forming the eyebrows of the taotie, all surmounted by a rectangular domed cover, the cantered sides similarly carved with taotie masks, rising sharply to a lion and cub finial, the larger feline with bulging eyes carved in the round standing four square on a raised platform, opening its jaws in a powerful roar, its finely incised mane and bushy tail curling over its hindquarter, a cub clambering up its back, the base carved with an apocryphal four-character mark Qianlong nian zhi, the translucent stone of bright sage-green colour subtly mottled with gold undertones and finished to a smooth polish

Collection of Huntington Library Art Gallery, San Marino, California.
Christie's New York, 23rd/24th September 1988, lot 250.

The Jade-Carving Art in the Ch'ing Dynasty, National Museum of History, Taipei, 1996, pp. 74-75.

There are a minute nibbling to the rim and inside rim of the cover, a tiny nick to the edge of one handle but otherwise the censer is in very 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. 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."

Known in China as cuiyu, jadeite was only introduced to the Qing court from the mines of Moguang following the conclusion of the campaign against Burma in 1769. The superior qualities of the stone elevated its value above that of jade and it was thus discerningly chosen to be employed for court items such as jewellery, paraphernalia and vessels.

The fine quality of this jadeite stone is evident in its large size and the evenness of the mint-green tone and colour. The evaluation of jadeite is similar to that of other gemstones in that it is based primarily on the 'Three Cs' – colour, clarity and cut. However unlike most coloured stones, the fourth C (carat weight) is less important that the dimensions of the fashioned piece. Instead, two further factors are also considered; the 'Two Ts' – translucency and texture. Colour is the most important factor in assessing the value of jadeite and quality pieces are characterised by an even hue and purity to the stone. Additionally, the absence of fractures, natural inclusions and a high level of transparency increase the value of a stone, together with the consistency of the grain size. Typically, texture and grain size are interrelated; the finer the grain the higher the transparency.

A related fangding, but the stone of a darker green colour and carved with elaborate side handles, each modelled with a dragon head grasping a leafy branch in its jaw, and the cover surmounted by a Buddhist lion and its two cubs playing with a beribboned ball, from the Doris Duke collection, was sold at Christie's New York, 21st September 2004, lot 116, and again at Christie's Hong Kong, 3rd December 2008, lot 2254. A similar fangding of smaller size, carved from apple-green jadeite, from the Jingguantang collection, was also sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 3rd November 1996, lot 602.