A LARGE PALE CELADON JADE ARCHAISTIC VASE AND COVER QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

well worked with a flattened baluster body standing on a splayed foot and surmounted by a waisted neck and rectangular mouth, the neck bordered with a band of low-relief archaistic pendent lappets and set to the short sides with a pair of well worked elephant-head loop handles, the sides divided into three low-relief registers enclosing archaistic motifs and taotie masks, the stepped cover similarly carved with taotie masks in low relief to the tapered sides and topped by a flat finial, stone of a pale celadon colour accentuated with attractive russet streaks

Sotheby's Paris, 15th December 2011, lot 126.

The taste for archaism during the Qing Dynasty is embodied in this vase, which draws its inspiration from archaic inlaid bronzes and reinterprets them. While the bands of archaistic birds and taotie masks featured on Chinese bronzes from the Neolithic period, they have been stylised and placed on a vessel of modern silhouette and contemporary elephant-head handles.

 Related examples include a celadon jade vase sold in our New York rooms, 12th September 2012, lot 299; and two vases sold at Christie’s New York, one from the collection of Edgar and Hedwig Worch, 2nd June 1994, lot 100, and the other of a greenish-white tone sold, 15th September 2009, lot 129. Further vases of this form include one sold in our Paris rooms, 15th December 2011, lot 126, and another sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1st to 3rd May 1994, lot 835. Compare also a fine Qianlong mark and period vase of carved in a similar manner, but with curling kui-dragon handles, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Yang Boda, Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages. Qing Dynasty, vol. 12, Chicago, 1997, pl. 30.

The elephant head handles on this vase is a Qianlong interpretation of traditional mask head handles that incorporates an auspicious message to further increase its desirability. A favourite animal of the Qianlong emperor, elephants represented power as well as being closely associated with Buddhism and a symbol of peace. During New Year festivities the elephant represented the time for renewal.