A pale greenish-white jade archaistic vessel and cover, Tulu.  18th/19th century

Carved in the form of an archaic bronze pigment container, the thin rectangular body with columnar corners rising from four waisted feet, the upper body carved in shallow relief with a band of interlaced kui dragons above shou characters on two sides and archaistic scrolls on the rounded corners of the lower body, with a pair of winged chi dragon handles suspending loose rings, the cover surmounted by an openwork coiled dragon standing atop the chilong coiled atop each corner, the semi-translucent white stone of very pale greyish-green tone with some russet markings - 5 in. (12.7 cm.) high, wood stand - Estimate: $35,000 - $45,000 - Price Realized: $74,500

Provenance: Stephen Junkunc, III.

Notes: The distinctive shape of this vessel is based on an archaic bronze prototype which was used to hold artist's materials. Colored pigments were kept in the tubular compartments at each corner which were subdivided by wooden splats, while the central compartment held a saucer and water for mixing the colors.

A similar example in green jade in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Zhongguo Yuqi Quanji, vol. 6, Hebei, 1991, pl. 89.

Christie's. Masterworks of Ancient and Imperial China. 17 September 2008. New York, Rockefeller Plaza. www.christies.com