A jade rhyton vessel. Qing dynasty
Carved in low relief with four bands of scrolls and volutes, the elegantly curved, archaic vessel emerges from the jaws of a monster, its birfucated tail decoratively curled upwards. The handle is formed by a muscular dragon clambering up the side of the vessel, its head resting on the lip rim. Celadon green jade with rust-brown inclusions. Damaged.
Height 15.2 cm
The rhyton was originally based on the shape of horn drinking cups and examples in jade emerged as early as the Han dynasty. As seen on ancient bronze vessels, this piece features multiple sections and bands of motifs, whilst the monster head base and dragon climbing in relief across the surface were later Song additions which remained popular in the Ming dynasty.
十七世紀 青白玉鳳凰觥
標籤：三百三... 玉音... 一件
來源：自1900年歐洲私人收藏
可比：Jessica Rawson《Chinese Jade from the the Neolithic to the Qing》，倫敦 1995年，頁396，圖29:8; 詳見洛杉磯郡藝術博物館，AC1993.231.3號
Provenance
In private European possession since circa 1900
Remains of an old paper label inscribed: san bai san...; yu yin...; yi jian
Literature
Compare a Ming example illustrated in J. Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, p. 396, fig. 29:8, and another in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number AC1993.231.3