A LARGE CHINESE GREY-GREEN JADE ARCHAISTIC FANG GUI

MING DYNASTY

The deep rectangular-section body carved with protruding studs around a wide central band, the two C-shaped dragon masks handles with large ears and hooked pendants. The flared rim carved in shallow relief with a narrow frieze with stylised mythical beasts facing the central masks, the tall foot with a band of galloping horses and stylised rocks, together with a hardwood stand inlaid with silver wire with lion dogs and a six character Chenghua mark, 23.5cm. (2)

Provenance: formerly in the Rutherston collection, Exhibited at the Exhibition of Chinese Art in New Zealand 1938 and the Victoria and Albert Museum 1927-1934, and then sold by Bluett & Son at the opening day of their exhibition on the 1st March 1948, catalogue no.134, to Sydney L Moss for £85. The fang gui was subsequently acquired by J P Love, in whose collection it remained until 1965 when it was then again sold by Sydney L Moss Ltd, on the 31st December 1965 for £350.

Cf. H Tsao, Jade des Empereurs à L'Art Déco, p130-131 for a closely related fang gui in the collection of the Musée National du Château de Fontainebleau, no. F1508C.