Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period Hetian White Jade Vase with Natural Russet Skin, Openwork Dragons, Floral Scrolls, and Movable Ring Handles

拍品描述

Dimensions: Overall Height 29 cm (11.42 in), Body Width 19 cm (7.48 in). Complete with its original matching jade cover. Carved from a single massive block of Hetian white jade.Description: This magnificent imperial-style jade vase from the Qianlong period is an outstanding example of the extraordinary craftsmanship achieved by the Qing court workshops. Expertly carved from a single monumental piece of premium Hetian white jade from Xinjiang, the stone displays the soft, creamy texture and rich, wax-like luster that define the finest quality jade. The overall color is a refined warm grayish white, while natural russet inclusions and honey-brown skin remain visible across portions of the body, cover, and foot. These naturally occurring areas of coloration penetrate the jade organically, creating beautiful visual contrast and adding to the authenticity and character of the piece. During the Qianlong reign, the imperial workshops selected only the finest jade material regardless of cost, and the impressive scale of this vase reflects the extraordinary value placed on large, flawless jade boulders.The form is inspired by ancient Shang and Zhou bronze ritual vessels, a favorite source of inspiration for the Qianlong court, and is composed of three perfectly integrated elements: the cover, the main body, and the rectangular foot. The cover is executed in a gently sloping trapezoidal form and is decorated in low relief with elegant scrolling lotus blossoms framed by finely carved geometric borders. At the center rises a multi-tiered finial, while the precisely fitted cover locks securely into the vase through a carefully engineered recessed rim, demonstrating the remarkable precision of imperial jade carving.The long, gracefully proportioned neck is decorated with delicately carved floral scrolls enclosed within geometric borders. On either side are magnificent dragon-head handles, each carved with curling horns, bulging eyes, and powerful facial features. Suspended from the mouths are fully movable jade rings carved from the same block of stone without assembly or separate attachment. These free-moving rings represent one of the most technically demanding achievements in Chinese jade carving and are among the defining hallmarks of the finest Qianlong imperial works.The broad flattened body serves as the visual centerpiece of the vase. Both sides are richly decorated using a sophisticated combination of deep relief carving and multiple layers of openwork piercing. Powerful five-clawed dragons weave dynamically through luxuriant scrolling floral vines, their scales, whiskers, claws, and muscular bodies rendered with extraordinary precision. The deeply undercut carving creates dramatic shadows and remarkable three-dimensional depth, while the openwork foliage flows naturally around the dragons, producing a composition that is both dense and perfectly balanced. This elaborate decorative style is entirely characteristic of the Qianlong court, where technical virtuosity and richly layered ornamentation reached their highest level.The vase stands on a gently flared rectangular foot decorated with finely carved geometric borders, while the underside has been meticulously polished to a flawless finish. Natural areas of russet coloration continue gracefully along the sides of the foot, emphasizing the beauty of the original jade material rather than concealing it.Every surface of the vase has been finished to an exceptional standard. The exterior, interior, and even the narrowest openwork passages have been carefully polished to a smooth, satin-like surface, leaving no visible tool marks and demonstrating the extraordinary level of craftsmanship associated with the Imperial Palace Workshops. The carving skillfully combines fully sculptural carving, movable ring carving, low relief, high relief, multiple layers of openwork, and finely incised details within a single masterpiece.Completely intact and retaining its original cover and movable rings, this monumental jade vase represents the grandeur, technical sophistication, and artistic refinement of Qianlong imperial jade at its peak. Monumental Hetian white jade display vessels of this scale and quality are exceptionally rare, making this an outstanding example of Qing court decorative art and a highly significant work for collectors, museums, and scholars of Chinese imperial jade.

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