Imperial Jade Bowl

Imperial Jade Bowl, carved in high relief along the body as five sinuous dragons leaping among Ruyi-shaped clouds, the stone is of a pale greenish jade with areas of russet, white and dark inclusions naturally incorporated as part of the scene, the bottom of the exterior carved as swirling water emanating from the center; the interior incised in the standard script with "Qianlong Jia Wu Yu Ti", indicating Qianlong regnal year (A.D.1774), as well as a poem by the emperor himself dedicated to the present lot, the poem can be roughly translated as: "Finest jade tribute from the Hetian region for the material of the bowl; Into cascades and clouds the dragons leaping from the deep pond; In accordance with the legendary accounts in the writings of the rarities, the design harmonious and the sound refined, on par with (Zhang) Zengyou's (502-549) painting, and surpassing Han Yu's (768-824) Long Shuo (Tale of Dragons) , manifesting the times of peace and prosperity as in the Era of Yao. On obtaining this precious object, I dedicate my prose to it." Measurements: ht. 4 1/4 in; lg. 9 1/2 in; wd. 7 1/4 in. Provenance: The consignor acquired the collection from her father, Captain Taylor, who was a military liaison between the U.S. Army and China. During his post in Beijing in the 1930's and 1940's, Captain Taylor purchased the collection from antiques dealer Mr. Liang at No. 10 in the Jade Street. Abrasions on five characters in the inscription; natural fissures on the ja Read more…