EWER WITH CHAIN AND LONGEVITY CHARACTER.

Mid-Later Qing Dynasty, China. Nephrite: medium greenish-yellow. Inscription: One seal-script auspicious character, shou (“Longevity”), on the side of the vessel. The ancestry of the body of this graceful work might be traced to the bronze hu of late Zhou-early Han in the essential proportions of the ewer’s body, but the overall configuration is strongly related to Persian metal prototypes. During the Ming period, examples appear in several media, including metal, cloisonne, and ceramic (Gyllensvard, p. 64, #67, a Ming silver ewer, dated to the 16th century). Though rare, there are also Ming jades of this form, such as the early 16th century green nephrite ewer excavated from the Shenzong Emperor’s tomb which, according to Watt, appears related in date and workmanship to an example from the “Northern School” of jade carving now in the Seattle Art Museum (Watt Seattle, p. 114, #96). Later Ming jade versions of the ewer with longevity motifs including Shouxing (the God of Longevity) and the Eight Immortals are known (Keverne, p. 140, #31), indicating that the association of longevity symbolism and the ewer form, as encountered in this graceful work from the Yangtze River Collection, has precursors in previous centuries. The ewer form continued from the Ming into the Qing, with variations on the basic decor: there might be a contained space within which designs of auspicious or more general vegetative import are contained, or decor might be more generally distributed across the surface. An elaboration of the chain motif overcomes many of the very late Qing and early modern works. The Seattle ewer dated by Watt to the late Ming has a peach-shaped double line “flame” with an interior design of floral sprays, and space for stone indentation in the style of Mughal hardstone carving. The present ewer has a very similar cartouche area, with a low-relief design representing an auspicious character and musical stone, not unlike a 18th century example published by Keverne (Keverne, p. 170. #106; see also p. 140, #31, a covered Ming ewer with longevity motifs). The body of the present ewer has a low-polished surface with the major decor area (consisting of a longevity character, a lotus, and a swastika) located on the low swelling belly. The handle is angular, reflecting metal work, and the spout, joined to the body with a disc, is gracefully curved with a bulbous base adorned with an upward-facing animal head in refined low relief. The simply-shaped foot is small but secure. The curved lid has a graceful lotus-bud knob, linked by a functional chain to the top of the handle. The form is well-shaped, its component parts organized in harmonious proportion one to another. Reference: The Yangtze River Collection, Later Chinese Jades published by Helga Wall-Apelt, 1993. SIZE: 10″ x 6.5″ x 2.75″. (25.4 x 16.5 x 7 cm.) CONDITION: Very good. 9-94925 (5,000-6,000) – Lot 7

Auction: FAAA - Wall-Apelt Collection - March 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	7	$14,202.50	EWER WITH CHAIN AND LONGEVITY CHARACTER. Mid-Later Qing Dynasty, China. Nephrite: medium greenish-yellow. Inscription: One seal-script auspicious character, shou (“Longevity”), on the side of the vessel. The ancestry of the body of this graceful work might be traced to the bronze hu of late Zhou-early Han in the essential proportions of the ewer’s body, but the overall configuration is strongly related to Persian metal prototypes. During the Ming period, examples appear in several media, including metal, cloisonne, and ceramic (Gyllensvard, p. 64, #67, a Ming silver ewer, dated to the 16th century). Though rare, there are also Ming jades of this form, such as the early 16th century green nephrite ewer excavated from the Shenzong Emperor’s tomb which, according to Watt, appears related in date and workmanship to an example from the “Northern School” of jade carving now in the Seattle Art Museum (Watt Seattle, p. 114, #96). Later Ming jade versions of the ewer with longevity motifs including Shouxing (the God of Longevity) and the Eight Immortals are known (Keverne, p. 140, #31), indicating that the association of longevity symbolism and the ewer form, as encountered in this graceful work from the Yangtze River Collection, has precursors in previous centuries. The ewer form continued from the Ming into the Qing, with variations on the basic decor: there might be a contained space within which designs of auspicious or more general vegetative import are contained, or decor might be more generally distributed across the surface. An elaboration of the chain motif overcomes many of the very late Qing and early modern works. The Seattle ewer dated by Watt to the late Ming has a peach-shaped double line “flame” with an interior design of floral sprays, and space for stone indentation in the style of Mughal hardstone carving. The present ewer has a very similar cartouche area, with a low-relief design representing an auspicious character and musical stone, not unlike a 18th century example published by Keverne (Keverne, p. 170. #106; see also p. 140, #31, a covered Ming ewer with longevity motifs). The body of the present ewer has a low-polished surface with the major decor area (consisting of a longevity character, a lotus, and a swastika) located on the low swelling belly. The handle is angular, reflecting metal work, and the spout, joined to the body with a disc, is gracefully curved with a bulbous base adorned with an upward-facing animal head in refined low relief. The simply-shaped foot is small but secure. The curved lid has a graceful lotus-bud knob, linked by a functional chain to the top of the handle. The form is well-shaped, its component parts organized in harmonious proportion one to another. Reference: The Yangtze River Collection, Later Chinese Jades published by Helga Wall-Apelt, 1993. SIZE: 10″ x 6.5″ x 2.75″. (25.4 x 16.5 x 7 cm.) CONDITION: Very good. 9-94925 (5,000-6,000) – Lot 7 Auction: FAAA - Wall-Apelt Collection - March 2015 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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EWER WITH CHAIN AND LONGEVITY CHARACTER.