Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art

22
AN ARCHAISTIC JADE RITUAL POURING VESSEL,
‘GONG’
Ming dynasty
明 仿 古 玉 觥
Dimensions: 11.7cm wide, 7cm high
Provenance: - The Arthur M. Sackler Collection
- Christie’s New York, ‘Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of
Art’, 25 March 2010, lot 1074
The mottled jade vessel modelled in the form of an archaic bronze ritual pouring
vessel, ’gong’, decorated with ‘taotie’ masks centred on vertical flanges, set between
a stylised band of dragons, phoenix and ‘C’-scrolls. The handle carved in the form
of a dragon head. The stone of the vessel is of a pale celadon tone with pale russet
inclusions.
Compare a similar example with lid, illustrated in ‘Jade’, Roger Keverne, London,
1992, p. 143, fig. 36. A slightly later example of similar size was sold at Christie’s
London, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 6 November 2012, lot 318.