A FINELY CARVED ARCHAISTIC JADE RHYTON MING / EARLY QING DYNASTY

the elongated helmut shaped vessel issuing from an inverted dragon head at the base, with ferocious gaping jaws under pointed piercing eyes on either side of a broad snout, the ridges of its body powerfully carved sweeping back to its curled mane forming the handle of the vessel, with a qilong dragon clambering across the top, finely carved in high relief with its limbs outstretched and a long bifurcated tail, incised across the vessel with three bands of archaistic scrolling motifs, with three flaring ruyi heads below the rim, the stone of a pale celadon tone mottled with honey-brown and russet highlights with small areas of calcification      

Collection of Miss Logé, 10 rue de la Victoire, Paris, 1918.

Jades et Pierres dures de la Chine, Cernuschi Museum, Paris, 1927, cat. no. 1219.

There is a small chip to the mane of approx 0.3 by 0.2cm, and another small chip to the tip of approx 0.2 by 0.2cm. Otherwise the piece is in very good condition overall.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This style of rhyton with the cup held in the mouth of a dragon-fish belongs to a distinct group of jade carvings, whereby clambering dragons, archaistic scroll bands and the dragon-fish base are common features. The present piece is notable for its unusual helmut-shaped cup and the rhythmical movement created by the swirling decoration and further accentuated by the natural inclusions of the stone. Rhytons were made during the Han and Tang dynasties when trade between China and West Asia was very active and this example has moved substantially from its original horn shape. Once this shape was born, it became the prototype copied by Ming and Qing craftsmen who in turn added their own decorative elements.

Rhytons of this type, but with slightly differing representations of dragons and cup shapes are known; for example see one in the Avery Brundage collection, included in the exhibition Chinese Jade throughout the Ages, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1975, cat. no. 306; another in the British Museum, London, illustrated in Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jades from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1994, pl. 29:8; and a third sold in our New York rooms, 19th March 2007, lot 25.