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CHINA
82 - ASIAN ART SOCIETY
20
JadE bRUsHWasHER
China Song Dynasty (960-1279) Length: 12,7 cm Provenance: Private English collection Price on request
ObJeCt PReSenteD by:
Rasti Fine Art Ltd. M.:+852 2415 1888 E.: gallery@rastifineart.com W: www.rastifineart.com
JUNE 2022 - 83
An unusual mottled grey and brown jade ‘boys’ brushwasher, of circular form on short foot, carved in relief to the exterior with five boys lying and standing on pierced rockwork clambering to the rim holding lotus branches and lingzhi sprays, the stone softly polished
The stone used for this washer with its deep tones and softness of polish, in conjuction with the style of the carving, particularly in the boys’ faces, indicates a Song date. An early Ming dynasty jade jar with boys can be seen in D'Argence, Chinese Jades in the Avery Brundage Collection, p. 98, pl. XLII.
84 - ASIAN ART SOCIETY
21
GREY JadE CUp
China Song/Early Ming Dynasty 10th-14th century Height: 8,9 cm Cup diameter: 7 cm Provenance: Private East Asian collection Private French collection Price on request
ObJeCt PReSenteD by:
Rasti Fine Art Ltd. M.:+852 2415 1888 E.: gallery@rastifineart.com W: www.rastifineart.com
JUNE 2022 - 85
A deep russet and mottled grey jade cylindrical cup, zhi, carved in relief with a confronting dragon and phoenix with coiled bodies and long geometric tails on a ground of C-scrolls beneath a band of key-frets to the rim of the neck, all above three lion-mask head feet, the boldly carved circular ring handle carved with a further lion head with bushy eyebrows and high raised geometric T-design ears, the softly polished stone leading from a deep-red russet gradually to a lighter russet to yellow-cream, and finally to a mottled grey.
The deliberate use of the extraordinary stone for this cup was to highlight the original archaic bronze shape. The high-quality carving, the stone and the polish indicate a strong possibility of a Song date. A grey jade cup dated to the 10th-14th century of similar design can be seen in D'Argence, Chinese Jades in the Avery Brundage Collection, p. 86, pl. XXXVI.
86 - ASIAN ART SOCIETY
JUNE 2022 - 87
