A SOAPSTONE BEAKER VASE, GU BY ZHOU BIN, QING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY

exquisitely carved in the form of an archaic gu vessel, the elegantly curved slender vessel resting on a splayed foot and surmounted by a flared trumpet neck, the middle and lower sections detailed with taotie masks against a leiwen ground and decorated with evenly spaced raised vertical flanges, with a short constricted section detailed with two 'cross' motifs in between, the neck bordered with long archaistic plantain blades similarly filled with taotie masks above a band of sinuous mythical beasts, all against a leiwen ground, the thin joint between neck and the middle section incised with a six-character Gumin Zhou Bin zhi ('Made by Zhou Bin of Ancient Gu [modern day Fuzhou]') mark, the stone of a warm and variegated salmon colour

A couple areas of the mouth have been slightly polished down. There are some typical nicks and flakes to the extremities, including an approx. 0.3 cm to the mouth and an approx. 0.4 cm to the base of the trumpet neck.
"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."

Zhou Bin, zi Shangjun, a native of Zhangzhou, Fujian province, was one of the most renowned carvers of soapstone and was active during the 17th century. He belonged to a small group of carvers who excelled both technically and artistically and were considered master carvers in this medium. He was famous for his fine votive figures of luohan or Guanyin, seals, small paperweights and other objects for the scholars’ studio, such as a seal-ink box and cover from the Wang Xixiang collection.

This miniature beaker is typical of archaistic pieces that have been adapted for different uses suitable for contemporary society; in this piece the original gu-form has been converted into a flower vase. No other early soapstone vessel modelled after a ritual bronze appears to have been published. Further soapstone carvings bearing various signatures of Zhou Bin include a brushpot, signed Zhou Bin and Shangjun, included in the exhibition Arts from the Scholar’s Studio, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1986, cat. no. 84, together with a soapstone seal surmounted by two archaistic kui dragons, also from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat Collection, cat. no. 43, and sold in these rooms, 8th October 2010, lot 2238; and a figure of Guanyin, signed Zhou Bin bai zhi, from the Robert B. Mayer collection, sold at Christie’s New York, 19th/20th September 2013, lot 1760.