清十八世紀 白玉雕「饕餮」紋雙龍活環耳蓋瓶

of flattened baluster form and rectangular section, the tapered sides rising from a raised pedestal foot to angled soulders and waisted neck, flanked by two single-horned chilong handles each projecting a thick curling tongue suspending a ring, finely carved in low relief on each side with a taotie mask formed of angular scrollwork and centred with a ruyi, with further scrolls interlinked with ruyi extending along the edges above and below, the sides similarly decorated with confronted chilong forming archaistic fretwork between ruyi-centred scrolls, the neck collared with upright leaves, the footring and rim incised with key-fret, the domed cover similarly decorated below a flanged upturned finial, the smoothly polished stone of even white colour and flawless quality

The vase and cover are in overall very good condition.
"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 vase represents the imperial style of jade carving actively promoted by the Qianlong Emperor, which sought to take forms and decorative motifs from archaic bronzes in the Imperial collection as the source of inspiration for the contemporary aesthetic. The form is based on the hu bronze vessel; although in silhouette the connection is immediately familiar, the angularity of the shoulders and the rectangular cross section are Qing innovations. Also typically archaic is the decorative scheme of the stiff leaf band encircling the neck and the taotie masks. By referring to antiquity, the Qianlong Emperor sought to invest his own generation with ancient values to thus enrich both art and life in his reign.

Compare vases of related form, such as one adorned with an Indian lotus scroll and ringed monster-mask handles, from the R. Norris Shreeve collection, sold in our New York rooms, 31^st May 1994, lot 52; and another flanked with dragon-mask handles suspending loose rings, its foot with broad indentations on each side and the body carved with figures in a landscape, sold three times at auction, most recently in these rooms, 2^nd May 2005, lot 563.