A rare and important pair of imperial white jade boxes and covers, Qianlong period (1736-1795)

Each cover finely carved with a flower head from which radiate eight ruyi head-form petals enclosing a small 'pearl', encircled by a plain raised border and the bajixiang fluidly carved in low relief in a continuous band around the sides above a plain border at the rim, each box also with a plain border at the rim above a band of pendent ruyi heads enclosing similar small 'pearls', the whole raised on a slightly flared and 'thumb-grooved' ring foot; with gilt-copper and champlevé enamel stands formed by six stylized dragons standing on-end to support a ring as they rise from a base enameled on top in turquoise surrounding a recessed center set with a small white jade pierced boss carved on top with a shou character, all above a band of turquoise-enameled petals and a shaped apron joining six ruyi-head supports raised on a narrow, flat ring
Boxes 6¾ in. (17.1 cm.) diam.; fitted champlevé enameled stands 3 7/16 in. (8.8 cm.) high (2) - Estimate: $500,000-700,000

Notes : Buddhism was the state religion of the Qing dynasty, and the Qianlong emperor, much like his predecessors Yongzheng and Kangxi, was a devout practitioner of the faith and partly responsible for its strong growth during the 18th century. Of particular interest to the Qianlong emperor was Tibetan Buddhism, and perhaps the pinnacle of his Tibetan Buddhist activities came in 1780, the year in which he celebrated his 70th birthday, when the Panchen Lama came to both Jehol and Beijing, and bestowed upon the Emperor the Mahakala and Cakrasamvara initiations. The rituals for these coincided with his birthday and indicated that Qianlong had formally 'entered the Buddhist realm.' Qianlong's powerful devotion to Buddhism was readily carried over into works of art made in the imperial ateliers during his reign. Jades, ceramics, textiles, bronzes and other items, made either for imperial use or as tribute for high lamas and important Buddhist figureheads, readily incorporated Buddhist subject matter and symbolism.

The current lot features the bajixiang, the eight auspicious Buddhist emblems, perhaps the most readily identifiable of the symbols found in Buddhist iconography, and a common decoration found on imperial works of art produced under the Qianlong emperor. The bajixiang represent the offerings made to the Buddha Shakyamuni by the Gods immediately after his enlightenment. These emblems can be briefly translated as follows: The Wheel of Law (falun), the inexorable expansion of the Buddha's teaching; the Conch Shell (luo), majesty, felicitous journey, the voice of the Buddha; the Umbrella (san), spiritual authority, reverence, purity; the Canopy (gai), royal grace; the Lotus (hua), purity, truthfulness in adversity; the Vase (ping), Eternal harmony, the receptacle of lustral water, the nectar of immortality; the Paired Fish (shuangyu), conjugal happiness, fertility, protection, spiritual liberation; the Endless Knot (zhang), eternity.

Christie's. Masterpieces of Chinese Art. 17 September 2008. New York, Rockefeller Plaza. www.christies.com