Junkunc: Chinese Jade Carvings

A WHITE AND RUSSET JADE BOULDER, QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

Auction Closed

September 22, 03:56 PM GMT

Estimate

40,000 - 60,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

A WHITE AND RUSSET JADE BOULDER

QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

清乾隆白玉雕溪橋撫琴圖山子

of triangular outline, crisply carved in the round as a craggy mountainous landscape, with jagged peaks rising above a seated scholar playing a qin adjacent to an arched bridge with mountain streams flowing beneath, the narrow side with a gnarled pine tree and a sapling, the reverse with a woodcutter standing with a joyful expression as if mesmerized by the lingering melody, the finely polished stone of an attractive creamy white color with russet patches, wood stand (2)

Length 4⅛ in., 10.4 cm

Collection of Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978).

來源

史蒂芬•瓊肯三世（1978年逝）收藏

The present carving is a fine example of yushan (jade mountain), where the jade boulder is elaborately carved to depict a hermetic scene set amidst a rugged mountainous landscape, home to immortals and reclusive scholars. Jade mountain carvings were popular amongst the literati and in the imperial courts as objects of contemplation. The scenes were inspired by landscape painting and thus often depicted figures in idealized wilderness, reflecting man's love for nature and his insignificance in the cosmic realm. Boulder mountains testify to the jade carvers' tremendous skills and reflect their reverence for the natural qualities of the stone. They were able to carve elaborate and lively tableaus within the confines of the boulder, keeping the silhouette intact while artistically manipulating the natural 'imperfections' of the stone to enhance the design.

For Qianlong period jade mountains of a similar size and quality, see a grayish-white jade example depicting a scholar and attendant crossing a bridge in a moutainscape, inscribed with an imperial poem by the Qianlong Emperor, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the exhibition The Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jades of the Ch'ing Court, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1997, cat. no. 36; and another white jade mountain depicting a scholar and attendant traveling in a landscape, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 2nd May 2005, lot 565.

本品為上等玉山例，雕工精細，構圖新奇，山石陡峭，潺溪小橋，高士松下撫琴，清雅之至。玉山自古為文人及宮廷皇貴所樂道。玉山者，化山水於案頭，以為品趣賞玩，軒窗之內即可遊目騁懷，雲馳四方。玉山頗見工者匠藝，隨玉石之形，奇巧構思，隱蔽其瑕，取畫意，以刀代筆，勾刻出一篇篇壯麗山水。

參考相類乾隆玉山，見一灰白玉例，雕溪橋策杖圖，題高宗御製詩，藏台北國立故宮博物院，展《宮廷之雅•清代仿古及畫意玉器特展圖錄》，國立故宮博物院，台北，1997年，編號36；另見一白玉山子例，雕山水高士圖，售香港蘇富比2005年5月2日，編號565。