Lot 34. A rare inscribed celadon jade and zitan 'nine dragon' hat stand, dated by inscription to the cyclical year of dingji of the Qianlong period, corresponding to 1737 and of the period. Estimate £30,000 – £50,000 ($43,380 - $72,300). Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2016.  

The top of the upper section is intricately carved with two five-clawed dragons amidst clouds, surrounding a roundel containing the characters Qianlong yu yong, 'for the imperial use of the Qianlong Emperor'. The underside is decorated with two further dragons. The zitan shaft is inscribed and gilt-decorated with a long inscription, separated by a jade mid-section carved with a dragon. The base is decorated with four further dragons. The jade is of a celadon tone with some darker and lighter inclusions. 10 5/8 in. (27 cm.) high

Notes: The long inscription contains an imperial poem composed by the Qianlong Emperor which is published in Qing Gaozong Yuzhi Shiwen Quanji (1), leshantang, vol. 1, The National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1976. This morally didactic poem states that rectitude is the foundation of everything, a principle bestowed by the heavens that should be followed by all those on earth. It purports that men should strive to achieve rectitude of the highest level, despite our weaknesses caused by selfishness and ignorance.

Poem recorded in Qing Gaozong Yuzhi Shiwen Quanji (1), leshantang, vol. 1, The National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1976. 

A similar white jade and rosewood hat stand, also carved with dragons and decorated with a Qianlong imperial poem, is in the British Museum in London, illustrated in the Oriental Ceramics Society exhibition catalogue Chinese Jade throughout the Ages, London, 1975, no. 463. A pair of comparable jade hat stands is in the Palace Museum in Beijing, illustrated in The Palace Museum Collection of Elite Carvings, Beijing, 2002, pl. 85. Also see a jade and jichimu hat stand with imperial poems which was sold at Sotheby's New York, 3 June 1987, lot 292 and again at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 5 October 2011, lot 2166.

Christie's. INSPIRED THEMES: A FINE SELECTION OF CHINESE WORKS OF ART, 10 May 2016, London, King Street