A RARE YELLOW JADE ARCHAISTIC RHYTON QING DYNASTY, 17TH / 18TH CENTURY

the smoothly polished stone of warm greenish-yellow colour with snowflake inclusions and caramel-brown calcified streaks, well carved and hollowed with the bottom-end resembling the upturned trunk of an elephant curling up toward the body , the exterior decorated in low relief with a continuous band enclosing a taotie mask on each side, below key-fret around the rim, the base picked out with swirling clouds cleverly incorporating the natural russet veining of the jade, wood stand

Christie’s London, 10^th April 1984, lot 592.
Roger Keverne, London. 
Sotheby's London, 16th May 2007, lot 263.

Roger Keverne, Summer Exhibition, London, 2000, cat. no. 84.

The rhyton is in overall good condition with a natural 4 cm fissure extending from the rim and another diagonally on approx. 4 cm from a calcified patch at the rim on the reverse. There is some natural pitting on areas and the stone is finshed overall to a fine polish.
"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 that wre first introduced to China in the Han dynasty. However the present piece is unusual for the cloud motif at the base of the cup which rises up to a curl; compare a rhyton attributed to the Song dynasty, also carved with taotie masks, the bifurcated mane of which forms the handle, included in the Oriental Ceramic Society Exhibition of Chinese Jades, London, 1948, cat. no. 114, and sold in these rooms, 9^th October 2012, lot 3137.

Rhytons of this type were produced from the Song dynasty onwards and are more commonly known carved with the head of a fabulous beast with the horn issuing from its gaping mouth; see one attributed to the Song or Yuan dynasty, formerly in the Avery Brundage collection, included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages, London, 1975, cat no. 309; and a third rhyton, from the British Rail Pension Fund, sold in these rooms, 16^th May 1989, lot 93.