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A FINELY CARVED WHITE JADE 'BAJIXIANG' ALMS BOWL QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD |
Estimate
500,000 - 700,000 HKD
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Description
- 13.7 cm, 5 3/8 in.
the rounded sides rising from a concave base to a round incurved rim, intricately worked to the exterior in shallow relief, depicting the eight beribboned bajixiang above a lappet band, the well polished stone of an even white tone with occasional cloudy inclusions
Condition
The bowl is in very good condition, with only very minute nicks along the mouth and occasional natural flaws to the stone.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
This elegant vessel, modelled after a Buddhist alms bowl, is skilfully carved in low relief with bajixiang, or 'Eight Auspicious Emblems'. Both the form and design suggests that it was probably made for a religious altar or for use in ritual ceremonies. Jade alms bowls, such as the present lot, are recorded as being made for imperial Buddhist temples. In 1757, during a tour to the South, the Qianlong Emperor highly praised an alms bowl at the Kaiyuan Temple in Suzhou and ordered similar vessels to be made in jade for imperial altars.
Groups of eight symbols were originally used in ancient India in religious ceremonies and at occasions such as the enthronement of kings. The symbols evolved over time with different objects falling in and out of favour. The Eight Buddhist symbols represent the offerings presented to Shakyamuni by the gods upon his enlightenment, and entered China around the time of the Yuan dynasty. These symbols can be found thereafter on ceramics and other types of artworks. By the Qing dynasty, as seen on the present bowl, the combination and the order of the symbols has been standardised: the Wheel of Law, the Conch, the Standard of Victory, the Parasol, the Lotus, the Vase, the Twin Fish and the Endless Knot.
A slightly smaller white jade alms bowl similarly decorated with bajixiang, from the collection of Sir Framjee Dinshaw Petit, 3rd Baronet, and Lady Syla Dinshaw Petit, was sold at Christie's London, 8th November 2011, lot 194; and a slightly larger example from the collection of Millicent Rogers, but the base carved with waves, was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28th November 2012, lot 2127. Compare also a few celadon and spinach-green jade alms bowls from the Qing court collection, preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing, and illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum. Jade, vol. 9: Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, pls 279-283.
Groups of eight symbols were originally used in ancient India in religious ceremonies and at occasions such as the enthronement of kings. The symbols evolved over time with different objects falling in and out of favour. The Eight Buddhist symbols represent the offerings presented to Shakyamuni by the gods upon his enlightenment, and entered China around the time of the Yuan dynasty. These symbols can be found thereafter on ceramics and other types of artworks. By the Qing dynasty, as seen on the present bowl, the combination and the order of the symbols has been standardised: the Wheel of Law, the Conch, the Standard of Victory, the Parasol, the Lotus, the Vase, the Twin Fish and the Endless Knot.
A slightly smaller white jade alms bowl similarly decorated with bajixiang, from the collection of Sir Framjee Dinshaw Petit, 3rd Baronet, and Lady Syla Dinshaw Petit, was sold at Christie's London, 8th November 2011, lot 194; and a slightly larger example from the collection of Millicent Rogers, but the base carved with waves, was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28th November 2012, lot 2127. Compare also a few celadon and spinach-green jade alms bowls from the Qing court collection, preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing, and illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum. Jade, vol. 9: Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, pls 279-283.