A FINE AND RARE CHINESE WHITE JADE 'BAMBOO' VASE

A FINE AND RARE CHINESE WHITE JADE 'BAMBOO' VASE
QIANLONG 1736-95

Naturalistically formed as a section of bamboo culm gently tapering towards the top, each segment separated by a raised and incised node, with fluted lower sections, carved in relief with two smaller leafy bamboo branches issuing from the base and extending over the exterior, the pale stone with areas of russet and light grey, 18.4cm.

Provenance: the Lawrence Collection of jades and hardstone carvings, purchased from Spink & Son prior to 1959.

This jade vase is carved from a white nephrite of exceptional quality, which was sourced from Khotan in Xinjiang. It represents the best of the jade craftsmanship of the early Qing dynasty. Bamboo grows widely in East Asia and has culinary, medicinal, textile and construction uses, as well as being admired as an artistic material. It has an important symbolism in Chinese culture, where it is associated with a gentleman's virtue and endurance. There is an old Chinese saying: "A gentleman's residence cannot be without bamboo". A vase in bamboo-form was usually for holding flowers, but could also be used as brush pot on the scholar's desk. Similar objects were made for the Imperial household.

清乾隆 白玉雕翠竹紋瓶

來源：勞倫斯珍藏玉石，1959年前購於Spink & Son。