Until 31st Dec, 2025
Buy it now
A JADE CARVING OF AN APSARA, 17TH-18TH CENTURY OR EARLIER
Lot 440 - FAS1025
China. Finely carved and pierced with the angelic figure floating elegantly in the wind whilst wearing long flowing robes, celestial scarf, and headdress, her hands clasped together grasping a tablet, all above lingzhi-shaped swirling clouds.
The translucent stone is of an elegant pale yellow tone, with faint greenish accents.
Provenance: European private collection.
Condition: Excellent condition with minimal wear.
Weight: 62 g
Dimensions: Length 7 cm
Apsaras are often depicted as flying figures in the mural paintings and sculptures of Buddhist cave sites in China such as in the Mogao and Yulin Caves, and the Yungang and Longmen Grottoes, and may also be depicted as dancers or musicians. They are referred to as feitian in Chinese. A female spirit of the clouds in Buddhist mythology, apsaras were beautiful heavenly attendants to deities. The billowing clouds and flowing scarf of this figure attest to her celestial nature and endow this carving with a femininity and gracefulness befitting her role.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s London, 13 May 2014, lot 138
Price: GBP 11,250 or approx. EUR 20,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pale celadon jade apsara, 17th/18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of carving, subject, and stone. Note the size (10.2 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s London, 13 May 2014, lot 17
Price: GBP 37,500 or approx. EUR 68,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A white jade carving of an apsara, Ming dynasty or earlier
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of carving, subject, and stone. Note the size (8.5 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 27 November 2018, lot 151
Price: HKD 90,000 or approx. EUR 12,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare white jade carving of an apsara, Song/Ming Dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of carving, subject, stone, and size (7 cm).
You can find images of this item taken under natural daylight below. Click on an image to zoom in or save. If there are no natural light images for this item, please email us at office@zacke.at or use the request form below.
If there are any existing additional images of this item, you can find them on this tab. You must be logged into your personal Zacke account to see the images. Click on an image to zoom or save.
Log in or sign up to view the natural light images.
Click here to request more information on this lot.
How to Buy Online
You must log in or create an online account in order to buy items from the shop.
Click the red 'Buy it Now' button to buy this item. You will then be able to download your invoice and receive instructions about how to pay. Prices include Buyer's Premium.
If you would like to buy multiple items at the same time, add the items you want to your cart. You will then be able to check out with multiple items simultaneously.
Items in your cart are not reserved. Please complete the purchase process promptly to secure the items.
How to Buy Offline
If you would like to buy one of these items outside of the online shop, please contact us at office@zacke.at or +43 (1) 532 04 52.
Our Terms and Conditions
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our auctions fair and transparent, we encourage you to read our terms and conditions thoroughly. We urge you to read through §34-50) to ensure you understand them. These terms are specifically designed to protect all serious and committed buyers from bidding against non-payers who attempt to inflate prices without the intent of paying their auction bills.
For further reading about non-payers at auction, go here: https://www.zacke.at/aboutnonpayers/.
The main points include the following:
- Bidders must complete their due diligence and clarify all questions about the objects before the auction. After the auction, Zacke will not answer questions from bidders unless the purchase price has been paid in full. Of course, this does not apply to questions concerning shipping, insurance, customs, etc.
- A sale cancellation of any kind after the fall of the hammer is not possible. The only exception to this fundamental rule is our guarantee of authenticity [the Guarantee].
- A Guarantee Claim, however, can only be raised after the purchase price has been paid in full by the buyer and within 45 days after the auction day.
If you have any questions about our policies, please get in touch with us at office@zacke.at.
By placing a bid, you agree to our Terms of Auction and Terms and Conditions.
