A LARGE AND RARE JADE ‘BIXIE’ WATER POT AND COVER, LATE MING DYNASTY
Lot 127 - FAS1025

China, 16^th-17^th century. The hollow water pot boldly carved as a crouching bixie with the head turned sharply to one side in an alert expression, the ears and horns flicked back as though preparing to pounce on its prey, the face with bulging eyes, thickly twisting brows, a ruyi-shaped snout, and a widely grinning mouth, slightly agape revealing tongue and sharp teeth. The muscular body flanked by a pair of wings, the ridged spine by rows of fur tufts terminating in a curled bifurcated tail.

The translucent stone is of a celadon tone with pale brown shadings, dark specks, icy inclusions, and russet veins, the stopper of slightly paler tone with a dark-russet patch neatly picked out by the carver.

The circular opening on its back fitted with a matching jade stopper in the form of a miniature coiled beast. (2)

Provenance: The collection of Dr. Émile Robin, and thence by descent. Dr. Émile Robin (1884-1971) was a French naval physician whose career brought him to China in the early 20th century. He began his service in 1905 and was stationed at the administrative center in Tientsin (Tianjin) in 1908. In 1909, he was appointed to the faculty of the Tianjin Medical School, a position that placed him at the intersection of cross-cultural exchange during a pivotal moment in Sino-French relations. During his time in China, Dr. Robin developed a deep appreciation for Asian art and culture, amassing a discerning collection of fine objects, many of which remained in his family through descent.
Condition: Good condition with expected wear and traces of use, minor nibbling to the extremities, small chips around the mouth, a minute loss under the tail. The stone with natural fissures, some of which may have developed into thin hairline cracks.

Weight: 802.1 g
Dimensions: Length 15.4 cm

This water pot reflects the thriving jade production of the Ming dynasty due to the growth of capitalism and the loosening of restrictions on jade carving. Jade became less associated with items for ritual use and was increasingly employed for everyday objects by the court and wealthy class, such as pieces for the scholars’ desk, eating and drinking vessels and ornamentation on clothing. Collecting antique jades also grew in popularity, thus influencing the style and aesthetics of the Ming period, as seen in the Han-inspired form and decoration of the present piece, see an example dated to the Western Han dynasty in the collection of the Xianyang Museum in Shaanxi province, illustrated in Zhongguo yuqi quanji-qin han, vol. 4, Shijiazhuang, 1993, p. 109, no. 148.

The 16th century writer Gao Lian recorded a white jade waterdropper in the form of a bixie made by the celebrated carver Lu Zigang of Suzhou. Described as archaic in design with a hollow body and inlaid with turquoise, vessels such as the present piece were probably inspired by Lu’s work (see James C. S. Lin, The Immortal Stone. Chinese Jades from the Neolithic Period to the Twentieth Century, Cambridge, 2009, p. 57).

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related jade bixie-form waterpot, 15.5 cm long, dated to the 16^th century, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number C.144-1913, illustrated by Ming Wilson, Chinese Jades, 1997, no. 65.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 19 March 2013, lot 431
Price: USD 75,000 or approx. EUR 89,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A finely carved jade bixie-form water dropper, Ming dynasty, 16^th/17^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of carving, and subject. Note the missing stopper.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 8 November 2012, lot 8
Price: GBP 48,050 or approx. EUR 91,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare pale green jade ‘bixie’ water dropper and cover, 17^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of carving, and subject. Note the size (13.4 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams London, 11 May 2021, lot 128
Price: GBP 44,000 or approx. EUR 68,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare pale green jade ‘mythical beast’ waterpot, Ming dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of carving, and subject. Note the size (12 cm).