A WHITE JADE 'ARCHAISTIC DRAGON' VASE WITH ELEPHANT HANDLES QING DYNASTY, JIAQING PERIOD

the flattened ovoid body supported on a small splayed foot and rising to a an oval rim, carved in low relief with elaborate archaistic strapworks forming the sinuous body of confronting dragons on each side, between two confronting phoenix above the foot and a band of archaistic birds around the shoulder, the waisted neck flanked by naturalistic elephant-head handles suspending loose rings, each finely detailed with large ears, small eyes and a wrinkled trunk, the domed cover surmounted by an openwork five-clawed dragon crouching foursquare, writhing among clouds around a 'flaming pearl', the rims picked out with incised leiwen, the white-celadon stone with a few light brown veins and finished to a smooth polish

Sotheby's London, 6th December 1994, lot 69.

The vase is in good condition with only a few expected nicks around the edges of the rims. There is an original dent to one side of the footring which makes it uneven, polished down at the time of the carving and incised with keyfret.
"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."

The craftsman celebrates tradition through the archaic-inspired form and choice of decorative motifs while redesigning these elements, as evidenced by its modernised silhouette, ringed elephant handles, stylised dragon band and ornately carved dragon knop. Compare jade vases similarly based on archaic forms and decorative motifs, flanked by ringed elephant-head handles, such as a pale green jade vase carved with a stylised taotie band in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, illustrated in Rene-Yvon Lefebvre d’Argence, Chinese Jades in the Avery Brundage Collection, San Francisco, 1977, pl. LII; and another with angled shoulder, sold at Christie’s London, 12^th December 1988, lot 289; Compare also two jade vessels dated to the Qing dynasty with related decoration of archaistic dragons with intertwined strapwork bodies, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the museum's exhibition The Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jades of the Ch'ing Court, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1997, cat. nos. 21 & 22.