A CHINESE WHITE JADE 'TIANJI' VASE

LATE QING DYNASTY/REPUBLIC PERIOD

The heavenly bird carved standing upon rocks, its wings detailed with chilong masks and archaistic scrolls, with a ribbon held in its beak, depicted supporting a large vase on its back, the vessel decorated with taotie masks to the body, with loose rings suspending from the bird's breast and the vase's animal-shaped handles, the pale stone with some russet inclusions, together with a wood stand carved in openwork with flowering peony branches, 19.5cm. (2)

Provenance: formerly a private collection, London, formed c.1959-1963. This vase was purchased from Chuen Koo Chai Dealers in Chinese Arts & Curios, Hong Kong, on 4th December 1963. A copy of the invoice is available. A certificate of identity dated 6th December 1963 from The Curios, Furniture & Miscellaneous Utensils & Hardware Merchants & Employees Association, Hong Kong & Kowloon, is also available. Lots 79-84 and 692-694 are all from the same collection.