Important Chinese Art including Imperial Jades from the De An Tang Collection
Important Chinese Art including Imperial Jades from the De An Tang Collection
Property from the De An Tang Collection 德安堂藏玉
A finely carved white jade 'Five Elders' brushpot Mark and period of Qianlong | 清乾隆 白玉五老觀潮圖筆筒 《乾隆年製》款
Auction Closed
October 13, 04:27 AM GMT
Estimate
700,000 - 1,200,000 HKD
Lot Details
Description
Property from the De An Tang Collection
A finely carved white jade 'Five Elders' brushpot
Mark and period of Qianlong
德安堂藏玉
清乾隆 白玉五老觀潮圖筆筒 《乾隆年製》款
the cylindrical vessel resting on five short bracket feet, the exterior well worked with a continuous scene depicting five elderly immortals and an attendant in a secluded landscape setting, two figures portrayed conversing on a promontory overlooking choppy waters, the base incised with a four-character reign mark, the white stone with icy inclusions and dark veins skilfully utilised to enhance the design
15.3 cm; h. 13.4 cm
Sotheby's London, 7th June 2000, lot 60.
倫敦蘇富比2000年6月7日，編號60
A spinach-green jade brushpot similarly depicted with the Five Elders was sold in our London rooms, 7th November 2018, lot 19, from the collection of Robert Napier, First Baron Napier of Magdala (1810-1890), included in The International Exhibition of Chinese Art, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1935-36, cat. no. 2794. In its essay written up by Dr Xu Lin, it was remarked, “During the middle and later parts of his reign, he [the Qianlong Emperor] vigorously promoted the introduction of painting subjects into jade carving. He believed that while paper could last a thousand years, jade—the crystallised essence of heaven and earth—was indestructible. Consequently, many themes common in painting and calligraphy began to appear in jade carvings.” The notion of longevity became increasingly important to the Qianlong Emperor with age and that this subject matter was especially favoured likely demonstrates his wish for a long life.
筆筒通景浮雕五老，山林間二老凭欄觀潮，三老和童子隨後而至，意境休閒平和。紋飾中五老為北宋重臣，年至耄耋，辭官後寓居睢陽，晏集賦詩，飲酒作樂，頤養天年。
2018年11月7日倫敦蘇富比拍出一件乾隆碧玉五老圖筆筒（編號19），徐琳博士為此撰文，文中提到「乾隆中晚期極力宣導將繪畫入玉雕，他認為紙壽千年，但作為天地精華的玉石則永不敗毀。所以，這一時期，許多和繪畫、書法同題材的玉雕作品出現。」乾隆年事愈高，愈渴求長壽，或因此製作更多以耄耋老人為題材之玉器，寄予長壽安逸之意願。