Rare et grande coupe de mariage en jade vert épinard Marque et époque Qianlong

de forme circulaire, les côtés arrondis sculptés en léger relief de rinceaux feuillagés chargés de lotus, le bord flanqué de deux prises ajourées chacune en forme de fleur de lotus épanouie dans leur feuillage soutenant des anneaux mobiles ronds, l'intérieur sculpté en haut relief au centre d'un médaillon d'hibiscus parmi des feuillages, le bord et le pied soulignés d'une frise de grecques, la base incisée d'une marque à quatre caractères Qianlong nian zhi

Acquired in Paris, November 1969 (No. 128 according to the collectors' files).

There are minute frittings scattered around the exterior and interior rim of the bowl and the raised and angular parts of the carving of the handles. There is a chip to the tip of one leaf on one handle. There is a ca. 1cm wide area on the rim where there appears to be a bruise associated with a flaw in the stone, that may have been slightly stabilized. There is a ca. 0.5cm bruise on the inside rim of the foot, and scattered minute fritts to the inside and exterior rim of the foot. There appears to be a ca. 1 cm long jagged/uneven diagonal line or hairline across one of the tips of the leaves where it joins the rim of the bowl which is continues in an uneven way into the side of the bowl and into the rim and may also be a natural vein/flaw in the stone. The jade is of a mottled dark green colour with a hint of yellow and some natural veins and flaws that have been incorporated into the carving.
"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 present marriage bowl is slightly larger than other known examples. The design of the handles and the central flower is highly ornate. The intricately and deeply carved, almost naturalistic flower sprays and blossoms may have been inspired by jades from Hindustan. Central Asian jade wares were originally brought to the Qing court under the Qianlong emperor and were subsequently copied by Chinese craftsmen who adapted the new designs to their own repertoire. A Mughal green jade lobed bowl, carved with a similar floral motif, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, was included in the Museum’s exhibition Exquisite Beauty. Islamic Jades, Taipei, 2012, cat. no. 62.

Jade vessels of this type, often referred to as ‘marriage bowls’, were commonly presented on the occasion of a wedding, and were thus carved with a variety of motifs that allude to felicitous wishes for a long and happy marriage life. They are characterised by their elaborately carved handles, which were carved into various forms such as dragons and flowers, and appeared like two butterflies flanking the bowl when viewed from above.

Compare a large spinach-green jade marriage bowl, similarly carved on the exterior with a lotus scroll, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 27th May 2009, lot 1839; and a smaller bowl, in the De An Tang Collection, included in the exhibition A Romance with Jade, Beijing, 2004, cat. no. 18. For other examples, compare one in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Chinese Jades, vol. 6, Shijiazhuang, 1993, pl. 317.