11th Oct, 2023 11:00
THREE-DAY AUCTION - Fine Chinese Art / 中國藝術集珍 / Buddhism & Hinduism
40
A PALE CELADON AND RUSSET JADE ‘CICADA AND POMEGRANATE’ WATER POT, CHINA, 18TH CENTURY
十八世紀灰白玉雕石榴水盂
€4,000
€8,000
A buyer’s premium of 30.00% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price of this lot if your bid is successful.
Naturalistically carved in the form of a pomegranate bursting with seeds, a single cicada resting on the vessel’s peach-formed rim, with its wings tightly folded to the sides, posed ready to drink. The waterpot further carved in relief with a gnarled branch issuing finely veined leaves opposite the stem. The smoothly polished translucent stone is of a pale celadon tone with distinct patches of russet skin and veins.
Expert’s note: Fascinatingly, this unusual object was intentionally designed to be displayed like a vase, when not used to hold water. This kind of "double" function was quite popular at the court in Beijing, intriguing viewers with an unexpected and surprising effect.
Provenance: This lot comes from an antique shop owner from the north of England. His store sells all kinds of antiques, and people come in with unusual objects all the time, but he has been keeping and collecting Chinese works of art that he particularly likes for a long time.
Condition: Very good condition with minor old wear and few microscopic nicks. The stone with natural inclusions and fissures. The surface shows a magnificent polish, rendering an unctuous feel overall.
Weight: 152.9 g
Dimensions: Width 8.7 cm
Please click here to read the full description
Fruits encapsulating auspicious messages were highly favored in the 18th century. The pomegranate was especially popular as it symbolized fertility, and the bursting flesh of the fruit, exposing its many seeds inside, symbolized the wish for a large family. As the Chinese character for ‘seed’ (zi) is the same as that for ‘son,’ the many-seeded pomegranate is viewed as a symbol for having multiple sons who are expected to continue the family line.
The cicada’s role in Chinese culture is a longstanding and fascinating one. Meanings associated with the insect range from simply indicating the onset of summer to more complex themes, such as rebirth and immortality. In general Chinese lore, cicadas are creatures of high status. They are considered pure because of their perch in high treetops. An ancient analogy in China suggests that a high-ranking official should resemble a cicada: residing high, eating a pure diet, and with sharp eyes. Also in antiquity, the headgear of rulers incorporated a golden image of a cicada with prominent eyes. The emblem signaled refinement, modesty, and a full awareness of one’s surroundings.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s London, 15 May 2013, lot 58
Price: GBP 32,500 or approx. EUR 58,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pale celadon jade ‘pomegranate’ waterpot, Qing dynasty, 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of carving, and color.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 31 May 2017, lot 13
Price: HKD 150,000 or approx. EUR 19,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A white and russet jade ‘pomegranate and cicada’ carving, Qing dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, also with a cicada, manner of carving, and color with similar bright russet inclusions in the stone. Note that this lot has bruises and was later converted into a snuff bottle.
点此阅读中文翻译 (Chinese Translation)
十八世紀灰白玉雕石榴水盂
玉質色澤微灰，有赭斑。全器雕石榴一枝，結有果實，石榴中空為盂，以蒂為口，枝葉均鏤空雕琢，石榴上停有一蟬。
來源：這件拍品來自一位來自英格蘭北部的古董店店主的收藏。店裡賣各種各樣的古董，總是有人拿著不尋常的東西進來，但店主一直保留和收藏他特別喜歡的中國藝術品。
品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損和一些微小的劃痕。具有天然內沁和裂縫的玉石，表面光滑瑩潤。
重量：152.9 克
尺寸：寬 8.7 厘米
拍賣比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：倫敦蘇富比，2013年5月15日，lot 58
價格：GBP 32,500（相當今日EUR 58,000）
描述：清十八世紀青白玉「榴開百子」水盂
專家註釋：比較非常相近的外形，雕刻風格和顏色。
拍賣比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2017年5月31日，lot 13
價格：HKD 150,000（相當今日EUR 19,500）
描述：清白玉榴開百子擺件
專家註釋：比較非常相近主題，雕刻風格，以及相似的白玉留皮。請注意此後來改成鼻煙壺。
Naturalistically carved in the form of a pomegranate bursting with seeds, a single cicada resting on the vessel’s peach-formed rim, with its wings tightly folded to the sides, posed ready to drink. The waterpot further carved in relief with a gnarled branch issuing finely veined leaves opposite the stem. The smoothly polished translucent stone is of a pale celadon tone with distinct patches of russet skin and veins.
Expert’s note: Fascinatingly, this unusual object was intentionally designed to be displayed like a vase, when not used to hold water. This kind of "double" function was quite popular at the court in Beijing, intriguing viewers with an unexpected and surprising effect.
Provenance: This lot comes from an antique shop owner from the north of England. His store sells all kinds of antiques, and people come in with unusual objects all the time, but he has been keeping and collecting Chinese works of art that he particularly likes for a long time.
Condition: Very good condition with minor old wear and few microscopic nicks. The stone with natural inclusions and fissures. The surface shows a magnificent polish, rendering an unctuous feel overall.
Weight: 152.9 g
Dimensions: Width 8.7 cm
Please click here to read the full description
Fruits encapsulating auspicious messages were highly favored in the 18th century. The pomegranate was especially popular as it symbolized fertility, and the bursting flesh of the fruit, exposing its many seeds inside, symbolized the wish for a large family. As the Chinese character for ‘seed’ (zi) is the same as that for ‘son,’ the many-seeded pomegranate is viewed as a symbol for having multiple sons who are expected to continue the family line.
The cicada’s role in Chinese culture is a longstanding and fascinating one. Meanings associated with the insect range from simply indicating the onset of summer to more complex themes, such as rebirth and immortality. In general Chinese lore, cicadas are creatures of high status. They are considered pure because of their perch in high treetops. An ancient analogy in China suggests that a high-ranking official should resemble a cicada: residing high, eating a pure diet, and with sharp eyes. Also in antiquity, the headgear of rulers incorporated a golden image of a cicada with prominent eyes. The emblem signaled refinement, modesty, and a full awareness of one’s surroundings.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s London, 15 May 2013, lot 58
Price: GBP 32,500 or approx. EUR 58,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pale celadon jade ‘pomegranate’ waterpot, Qing dynasty, 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of carving, and color.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 31 May 2017, lot 13
Price: HKD 150,000 or approx. EUR 19,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A white and russet jade ‘pomegranate and cicada’ carving, Qing dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, also with a cicada, manner of carving, and color with similar bright russet inclusions in the stone. Note that this lot has bruises and was later converted into a snuff bottle.
点此阅读中文翻译 (Chinese Translation)
十八世紀灰白玉雕石榴水盂
玉質色澤微灰，有赭斑。全器雕石榴一枝，結有果實，石榴中空為盂，以蒂為口，枝葉均鏤空雕琢，石榴上停有一蟬。
來源：這件拍品來自一位來自英格蘭北部的古董店店主的收藏。店裡賣各種各樣的古董，總是有人拿著不尋常的東西進來，但店主一直保留和收藏他特別喜歡的中國藝術品。
品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損和一些微小的劃痕。具有天然內沁和裂縫的玉石，表面光滑瑩潤。
重量：152.9 克
尺寸：寬 8.7 厘米
拍賣比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：倫敦蘇富比，2013年5月15日，lot 58
價格：GBP 32,500（相當今日EUR 58,000）
描述：清十八世紀青白玉「榴開百子」水盂
專家註釋：比較非常相近的外形，雕刻風格和顏色。
拍賣比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2017年5月31日，lot 13
價格：HKD 150,000（相當今日EUR 19,500）
描述：清白玉榴開百子擺件
專家註釋：比較非常相近主題，雕刻風格，以及相似的白玉留皮。請注意此後來改成鼻煙壺。
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Auction: THREE-DAY AUCTION - Fine Chinese Art / 中國藝術集珍 / Buddhism & Hinduism, 11th Oct, 2023
Join Zacke for a three-day live auction event featuring 741 works of art from countries as large as China, India, or Indonesia, from the Himalayan valleys and plateaus of Tibet, Nepal, Kashmir, and Pakistan, from the Southeast Asian peoples of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar, as well as from the steppes of Central Asia to the plains of Mongolia, and from the Northern Indian basin to the island of Sri Lanka.
A pinnacle event of our autumn calendar – the flagship auction – will take place on Day 1 of the sale (lots 1-247), featuring many important pieces from renowned collections, among them an Imperial Falangcai miniature vase (lot 102), the Ming Dynasty’s largest surviving Zitan figure (lot 187), and an Imperial robe made for the Empress Dowager Cixi (lot 201).
The general auction will follow on Day 2 (lots 248-436) and on Day 3 (lots 437-748), offering items for avid art collectors and first-time buyers alike.
Notable Collector’s Provenances include the Zande Lou Collection, built by J.M. Hu, one of the world’s greatest connoisseurs of Chinese ceramics; James J. Lally, New York, a preeminent scholar of Asian art; Dr. Wou Kiuan, diplomat and founder of the Wou Lien-Pai museum; Zhang Boju, China’s celebrated art collector who was also known as one of the ‘Four Young Princes’; as well as many prestigious names such as Anton Exner, Adolphe Stoclet, Adrian Maynard, Dr. Elsa Graser, Charles Oswald Lidell, George Hathaway Taber, the Chasseloup-Laubat Family, Madame Safia Sassi, John Marsing, Leonardo Vigorelli, American tattoo artist Ed Hardy, and Academy Award winners Michael Phillips and Anthony Powell.
Historic Gallery and Dealership Provenances include Spink & Son, Galerie Jacques Barrère, Michel Beurdeley, E&J Frankel, Hugh Moss, Clare Chu, the Bernheimer Collection, Bluett & Sons, John Sparks, Marsha Vargas, Robert Kleiner, S. Bernstein & Co, Cohen & Cohen, and Michael Goedhuis.
Museum Deaccessions include the Cranmore Ethnographical Museum, the Norton Museum of Art, the Walters Art Museum, the Wou Lien-Pai, the Idemitsu, and the Zelnik István Asian Gold Museum.
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