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AN INSCRIBED YELLOW JADE WATERPOT XINGYOUHENGTANG HALL MARK, QING DYNASTY, DAOGUANG PERIOD
Estimate
220,000 - 250,000 HKD
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Description
- jade
the compressed globular jar carved resting on a shallow foot, with incurving sides rising to a lipped rim, incised with chrysanthemum flowers issuing from rockwork and an inscription of couplets in clerical script, the floral design and poem filled in with gilding, the base incised with the four-character Xingyouhengtang ('Hall of Constancy') hall mark
Provenance
Collection of the Fifth Prince Ding, Zaiquan.
Christie's New York, 28th March 1996, lot 89.
Sydney L. Moss Ltd., September 2001.
Christie's New York, 28th March 1996, lot 89.
Sydney L. Moss Ltd., September 2001.
Exhibited
Escape from the Dusty World, Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London, 1999, cat. no. 82.
Condition
The waterpot is in overall good condition with just expected light surface wear and minute nicks to the edges, particularly to the footring. There are also losses to the gilding. The actual colour of the stone is less pale than the catolgue illustration.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
The poem refers to the chrysanthemums carved on this charming vessel, which can be translated as follows:
A cinnabar heart leaning towards the sun,
Feeling deep gratitude for the dew of heaven.
Do not slight the chrysanthemum for its lack of beauty.
It was famous before the mallow flower.
The kuihua denotes either the mallow or the sunflower, both of which turn their heads up towards the sun and follow its path during the day. The sun represents the emperor, thus the mallow became a symbol of loyalty. The cinnabar heart leaning towards the sun may represent both the flower as well as a person, while the dew of heaven may be a metaphor for the benevolence of the emperor.
The Xingyoutengtang mark identifies this vessel as having been the property of the fifth Prince Ding, Zaiquan, a great-great-grandson of the Qianlong Emperor. Although the birth date of Prince Zaiquan is not recorded, it is noted that he attended the Palace school for princes and in 1808 began to study under Tang Jingzhao. In 1816 he was appointed a nobleman of the tenth rank, which suggests this came after an examination indicating he would have been born in the last years of the 18th century. For further biographical notes on Prince Zaiquan, see Arthur W. Hummel, Emminent Chinese of the Ch’ing Period, Taipei, 1991, pp. 728-9.
A cinnabar heart leaning towards the sun,
Feeling deep gratitude for the dew of heaven.
Do not slight the chrysanthemum for its lack of beauty.
It was famous before the mallow flower.
The kuihua denotes either the mallow or the sunflower, both of which turn their heads up towards the sun and follow its path during the day. The sun represents the emperor, thus the mallow became a symbol of loyalty. The cinnabar heart leaning towards the sun may represent both the flower as well as a person, while the dew of heaven may be a metaphor for the benevolence of the emperor.
The Xingyoutengtang mark identifies this vessel as having been the property of the fifth Prince Ding, Zaiquan, a great-great-grandson of the Qianlong Emperor. Although the birth date of Prince Zaiquan is not recorded, it is noted that he attended the Palace school for princes and in 1808 began to study under Tang Jingzhao. In 1816 he was appointed a nobleman of the tenth rank, which suggests this came after an examination indicating he would have been born in the last years of the 18th century. For further biographical notes on Prince Zaiquan, see Arthur W. Hummel, Emminent Chinese of the Ch’ing Period, Taipei, 1991, pp. 728-9.