A pale green jade vase, Qing dynasty, 18th-early 19th century. Photo Sotheby's

of flattened pear-shaped form rising from a straight foot to a waisted neck with galleried rim, flanked by a pair of mythical bird-head handles suspending rings, the body carved in low relief to each of the sides with raised oval cartouches enclosing gnarled pine and wutong trees growing beside rockwork, chrysanthemum and Rhodea japonica, all below pendent acanthus leaves to the neck, the stone of a pale celadon tone with russet inclusions; 18.9cm., 7 1/2 in. Estimation 60,000 — 80,000 GBP

Provenance: Acquired by a French diplomat in China in the late 19th century, by repute.
Purchased by the father of the present owner in Paris in the 1980s.

This charming vase is notable for its combination of Chinese and Mughal style carvings, accentuated by the even tone of the stone and the skilfully polished surface. While the bird-shaped ringed handles and the depiction of trees that are full of auspicious symbolism are characteristic of Chinese carvings, the wispy acanthus leaves adorning the neck draw their inspiration from Mughal jades, which were particularly popular during the Qianlong period, when they first reached the court as items of trade or tribute.

Jade vases similarly carved with natural scenes enclosed within cartouche include a spinach jade vase and cover in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Yang Boda, Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages. Qing Dynasty, vol. 12, Chicago, 1997, pl. 35; another in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, published in James C.S. Lin, The Immortal Stone. Chinese Jades from the Neolithic Period to the Twentieth Century, Cambridge 2009, p. 124 (top, centre); and a third vase and cover in the Minnesota Museum of Art, Saint Paul, included in the exhibition Jade as Sculpture, Minnesota Museum of Art, Saint Paul, 1975, cat. no. 57. For a related floral design see a Qianlong Mughal style vase and cover from the De An Tang collection, included in the exhibition A Romance with Jade, Palace Museum, Beijing, cat. no. 31.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. London, 14 mai 2014 - http://www.sothebys.com/