Provenance: Collected in China prior to 1949 and thence by descent.

Note: The Qianlong Emperor was a great connoisseur and collector of art and antiques, well-known for his love of archaism. Under his direction, many cloisonné, ceramic and jade vessels inspired by archaic forms were made for his enjoyment.

The shape of the present vessel takes its inspiration from the ancient bronze vessel known as a zun. Zun were ritual wine vessels used beginning in the Shang dynasty. As a ritual container, its function was to provide offerings of wine to the deceased through ceremonial practices. An example of a Late Shang / Early Western Zhou zun was sold in these rooms, 11th and 12th September 2012, lot 159. Another archaistic element on the present lot is the decoration on the handles, which take the form of taotie masks, a motif commonly found on ritual bronze vessels from the Shang and Zhou dynasties. The addition of the alternating raised ribs and incised lines give the present lot an air of refinement and elegance, allowing the beauty of the jade to show through and making it a perfect blend of archaism and innovation, resembling an open blossom when viewed from above.

The present lot has a similar profile to a mid-Qing dynasty white jade vase in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated by Yang Boda, Zhongguo yuqi quanji, Beijing, Vol. II, p. 578, fig. 154.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. New York, 19 march 2013