Lot 139. A rare Imperial inscribed pale green jade chrysanthemum-head incense fan, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 20.5cm (8 1/8in) long. Estimate HK$ 200,000-300,000. Sold for HK$ 277,500 (€ 29,554). Photo: Bonhams.

Of flattened circular form, carved in the form of a chrysanthemum flower on a zitan handle with silver inlay decoration of archaistic motifs, the fan further carved with rows of radiating petals diminishing in size towards the centre, intricately inscribed with a yu zhi two-character zhuanshu mark and a ten-character kaishu Imperial poem, followed by the characters chen Yu Mingzhong jingshu, 'respectfully written by his servant Yu Minzhong', concluding with a seal zhong, box. 

Note: The verse on the present fan is quoted from a poem composed by the Qianlong emperor in praise of the Shanxiang Xie (Pavilion of Shanxiang) in the Old Summer Palace, Yuanming Yuan. It was included in the Qianlong emperor's Yunzhishi sanji (Imperial Poetry III, 1771). The calligraphy is by Yu Mingzhong (1714-1779), the chief editor of the Imperial Poetry and Siku quanshu (Complete Library in Four Sections). He was highly appreciated by the Qianlong emperor for his calligraphy and his inscriptions or colophons can be found on a large number of works of art, paintings and calligraphy which were collected by the emperor.

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 1 Dec 2020, Hong Kong, Admiralty