A PALE CELADON JADE 'BIRD AND PRUNUS' VASE AND COVER QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

of rectangular section, the bottom of the vase carved in high relief with a large gnarled prunus branch adorned with blossoming flowers and foliage ascending to one side, with a magpie perched amongst the branches and another resting at the rim, the cover with gently sloping edges and surmounted with a rectangular finial, the stone of an even pale celadon tone, wooden stand

This jade 'prunus' vase is in good condition, but has minor nicks to the rim and the cover has a very small shallow chip to one corner of the rim and other minor nicks.
"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."

Meticulously executed to depict a small bird perched on a flowering prunus tree emerging from rockwork, this vase displays the dexterity of the carver in his ability to fashion the stone in various levels of reliefs. The delicate and naturalistic rendering of the prunus flowers create an attractive contrast to the thick twisting branches rendered in openwork and the plain faceted form of the vase.

A slightly larger vase carved with a similar motif, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum. Jade, vol. 10, Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, pl. 37; one carved with flowering peach sprigs, from the Yongshougong collection, included in the exhibition A Romance with Jade, Palace Museum, Beijing, 2004, cat. no. 53, was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 29th September 1992, lot 816, and again in our Hong Kong rooms, 10th April 2006, lot 1516; a slightly smaller yellow jade example carved with the ‘Three Friends of Winter’, from the collection of Georges de Menasce and Sir John Woolf, was included in the exhibition The Woolf Collection of Chinese Jade, Sotheby’s London, 2013, cat. no. 1; and another also with a crane, from the collections of Dr Cheng Te-k’un and Alan and Roger Pilkington, was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 6th April 2016, lot 66.