Lot 679. A rare archaistic white and russet jade vase, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 16.3cm (6 1/2in) high. Estimate £ 10,000 - £ 15,000. Sold for £ 50,250 (€ 58,464). © Bonhams 2001-2021

Crisply carved with four horizontal ribs around the body and neck, the body with a shallow-relief symmetrical design of C-scrollwork on both sides, the stone of white tone with minor cloudy-white and russet inclusions.

Note: The luminous tone of the stone of the present piece is further accentuated by the archaistic low-relief carving. In the subtle curves of the form, the craftsman has successfully captured the stone's innate beauty. The Qianlong emperor commissioned a large number of jades which were inspired by the forms and designs of antiquity. Jade carvers were encouraged to study archaic bronze vessels in the Qing Court Collection or in illustrated woodblock prints, and adapt them to the medium of jade. Inspired in its decoration by archaic bronzes, the present lot epitomises this trend.

See a related archaistic white jade bottle vase, Qianlong, which was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 April 2010, lot 1882.

Lot 681. A fine spinach-green jade 'Eight Buddhist emblems' openwork incense burner and cover, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 14.3cm (5 5/8in) diam. Estimate £8,000 - £12,000. Sold for £ 35,250 (€ 41,012). © Bonhams 2001-2021

Of compressed globular form supported on a short spreading foot, the body superbly carved in low relief with the bajixiang beneath an everted rim carved in openwork with foliate scrolls, the domed cover similarly carved in openwork, surmounted by a large peony flower-head finial, the stone of rich dark-green tone with dark speckles.

Provenance: S. Bulgari, Rome (label)
A European private collection
Christie's London, 7 November 2017, lot 31.

Note: See a similar example illustrated by Yang Boda, The Cream of China's Ancient Jade Article (1995), no. 178, a pale green jade example; and Zhang Guangwen, Jasper Wares of Qing Dynasty Collected by the Palace Museum and Manasi, 2014, no.65.

See a related spinach-green jade incense burner and openwork cover, Qianlong/Jiaqing, which was sold at Bonhams London, 5 November 2020, lot 157.

Lot 708. A fine and rare pair of jadeite bowls and covers, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 12.2cm (4 13/16in) diam. Estimate £8,000 - £12,000. Sold for £ 27,750 (€ 32,286). © Bonhams 2001-2021

Each bowl skilfully carved with generous rounded sides gently flaring from the foot towards the rim, the domed cover with counter-sunk knop, the semi-translucent icy-green stone mottled with white and moss green inclusions, wood stands.

Provenance: Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London, 8 May 1970
Christie's London, 14 May 2013, lot 17.

Published, Illustrated and Exhibited: Roger Keverne Ltd., Winter Exhibition, London, 2013, no.91.

Note: Compare with a very similar jadeite bowl and cover, Qing dynasty, illustrated in Masterworks of Chinese Jade in the National Palace Museum: Supplement, Taipei, 1973, no.37. Another similar jadeite bowl and cover is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Treasures of Imperial Court, Hong Kong, 2004, p.226, pl.202.

See also a fine and rare apple-green jadeite bowl, Qianlong/Jiaqing, which was sold at Bonhams London, 7 November 2013, lot 159.

Lot 616. A fine very pale green jade 'prunus' brush washer, 18th century; 13.8cm (5 1/2in) long. Estimate £10,000 - £15,000. Sold for £ 25,250 (€ 29,377). © Bonhams 2001-2021

The thick-walled washer of triangular shape, carved as a gnarled trunk issuing intertwined openwork branches on the sides amongst prunus blossoms and buds, the stone of very pale green tone with minor cloudy-white inclusions, wood stand.

Note: The present washer is notable for its intricate carving of blossoming prunus branches extending from a bowl in the form of a gnarled piece of wood, and the fine quality of the stone.

By carving the jagged prunus branches in the round, the craftsman created a remarkable vessel for the scholar's studio. The design may have been inspired by rhinoceros-horn raft cups dating to the late Ming period, which were often carved in a way that mimicked a hollowed segment of a gnarled tree trunk detailed with naturalistic knots and twisting boughs.

Compare with a similar pale green jade prunus washer, 18th century, illustrated by R.Kleiner, Chinese Jades from the Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, Hong Kong, 1996, no.95.

A related jade washer, Qianlong, was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 6 April 2016, lot 63.

Lot 648. A very pale green jade figure of He Xiangu, 17th-18th century; 15.5cm (6 1/8in) high. Estimate £10,000 - £15,000. Sold for £ 25,250 (€ 29,377). © Bonhams 2001-2021

The Daoist Immortal well carved standing beside a crane grasping a leafy peony spray in its beak, her waist slightly bent, holding a gnarled leafy peach branch in her left arm, her right hand holding a flower, dressed in long robes, her face with a benevolent expression, the stone of pale green tone with russet-brown inclusions, wood stand.

Provenance: a Swiss private collection
Sotheby's London, 6 November 2013, lot 358.

Note: See a similar jade carving of a female Immortal, Qing dynasty, illustrated in the Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade vol.8, Beijing, 2011, no.258.

Lot 515. A rare pale green and russet jade vessel, zhi, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644); 13cm (5 1/8in) high. Estimate £4,000 - £6,000. Sold for £ 24,000 (€ 27,923). © Bonhams 2001-2021

The pear-shaped body supported on a tall and slightly spreading foot encircled by rope-work, rising to an elegantly flaring rim, carved with a relief band enclosing archaistic phoenixes in mutual pursuit of a roundel, one side with a loop handle, the stone of pale green tone with russet streaks.

Published, Illustrated and Exhibited: Roger Keverne Ltd., Summer Exhibition, London, 2003, no.70.

Note: Compare with two similar jade vessels, zhi, Ming dynasty, illustrated in the Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade 7 Ming Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, nos.22-23. See also one in the collection of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, illustrated in Hai-wai Yi-chen: Chinese art in overseas collections, Jade II, Taipei, 1991, no.54 (right).

A similar pale green jade pouring vessel, zhi, Ming dynasty, was sold at Bonhams London, 16 May 2019, lot 67.

Bonhams. Roger Keverne Ltd Moving On (Part II), London, New Bond Street, 7 June 2021