A PALE CELADON JADE CENSER, FANG DING QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

the body of rectangular section on four tapering cylindrical legs, the front and back face delicately carved in shallow relief with a taotie, with vertical flanges to the corners and centre, the sides with two chilong flanking a strap handle, the domed cover similarly carved with taotie below a rectangular knop finial, the stone of an even pale celadon to white tone, wood stand

Spink & Son Ltd., London, 1969.

This attractive jade fang ding is in good condition, but has some minor nicks to the rim.
"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."

This attractive piece is remarkable for its delicately carved taotie design which enlivens the robust facetted shape and draws attention to the translucent and even tone of the pale celadon jade. Modelled after archaic bronze fang ding made during the late Shang and Western Zhou dynasties, this piece displays the ingenuity of craftsmen active during the Qianlong reign, who were able to adapt and reinterpret ancient designs to suit the Emperor’s personal aesthetic taste in completely different materials from the original.

 

A slightly larger fang ding, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, is illustrated René-Yvon Lefebvre d’Argencé, Chinese Jades in the Avery Brundage Collection, Tokyo, 1977, pl. LIII; another, from the Marcia Israel collection was, included in the exhibition Chinese Jade from Southern California Collections, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, 1977, cat. no. 45; and a third, from the collection of Tschao Itao, was sold in our Paris rooms, 15th December 2016, lot 154.