A large and finely carved pale celadon jade marriage bowl. Qianlong period  (1736-1795). Photo Christie's Image Ltd, 2011

The deep bowl with steep rounded sides, flanked by a pair of monster-mask handles detailed with bulging eyes, long horns, elegantly curled wings and suspending loose rings, carved in shallow relief to each side of the exterior with blossoming gnarled prunus trees, the interior crisply carved with a pair of confronting catfish amongst leafy lingzhi, the stone of an even pale tone with minor cloudy inclusions; 10¼ in. (26 cm.) wide . Estimate £350,000 - £450,000. Price Realized £421,250.

清乾隆   青白玉吉慶有餘雙獸耳活環洗

Provenance: Charles Sackville Bale Esq.; Christie's London, 17 May 1881, lot 667.
The Burton Collection of Chinese Works of Art.

THE BURTON COLLECTION OF CHINESE WORKS OF ART
The present collection of exquisite jade and coral carvings was amassed in the early 20th Century by Sir Montague Burton (1885-1952).
Montague Burton arrived in Yorkshire from Lithuania in 1900 and by 1910 he had bought his first clothing manufacture factory. His business expanded rapidly, partly through the manufacture of uniforms. By 1925 his Leeds clothing factory was the largest in Europe, employing 10,500 people and the manufacturing and retailing business became one of Britain's best known. During the early 1930s Montague Burton travelled extensively and with his wife visited China in 1934, doubtless sparking their interest in jade carvings and other works of art.
Christie's is delighted to be able to offer this selection of fine works on behalf of one of Sir Montague Burton's direct descendants.

Notes: Bowls of this type are known as 'marriage' bowls, and with their carefully chosen auspicious decoration, were popular in Qing dynasty China. The present bowl is exceptional for the even colour of its stone, as well as the thickness of the vessel.

The carved elements on the present marrriage bowl comprise an auspicious wish for prosperity. Two catfish, a homonym for niannian meaning 'year after year', together with the ruyi-shaped lingzhi fungus, takes on the meaning of niannian ruyi which may be translated as 'May your wishes come true year after year'. See a similarly-sized and decorated bowl sold in these rooms, 16 November 1999, lot 36.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 8 November 2011; London, King Street www.christies.com