A RARE JADE WINE EWER AND COVER MING DYNASTY, 16TH CENTURY

the compressed hexagonally lobed body rising from a short straight foot to a short neck, the body finely carved with the Tang poem Penglai sandian shiyan fengchi yong Zhongnan Shan (A poem by imperial command for praising Zhongnan Mountain at Penglai sandian) divided by panels of bamboo, set to one side with a loop handle and to the other with a short spout, the correspondingly lobed cover carved with Buddhist emblems and surmounted by a separately carved figure of Shoulao seated on a pierced rockwork throne beside a deer and crane, the stone of celadon tone with mottled caramel inclusions, wood stand

Christie's London, 7th December 1992, lot 123.
Collection of Zhang Qianying (1909-2003).
Thence by descent.

There are very minute nibbling along the rims of both the ewer and the cover, and the extremities of the carving to the finial. The tip of the staff held in Shoulao's hand is lost. The ewer has some natural fissures with associated minute losses, including one to the bracketed rim near the right of the handle and one other from the rim running diagonally across the body and to the base behind the spout. The jade is of a slightly warmer celadon tone compared to the catalogue illustration.
"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."

A jade ewer and cover with a very similar knop, attributed to the late Ming Dynasty, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Zhongguo Meishu Quanji. Yuqi, vol. 9, Beijing, 1991, pl. 292.