λ A LARGE CHINESE IMPERIAL CARNELIAN-AGATE 'POMEGRANATE' DOUBLE VASE AND STAND

QIANLONG 1736-95

Boldly carved with a fruiting branch of pomegranates picked out in reddish orange and with a smaller branch of peaches to the reverse. The double vase formed as sections of pine with lingzhi and bamboo issuing from the base, the green-stained ivory stand is carved with pine branches amongst rocks, 19cm overall. (2)

Provenance: Arthur Wellesley Gosset (b.1837), and then a French private collection. Arthur Wellesley Gosset is recorded in The London Gazette upon entry into the British Army, 'Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Mulock. Dated 24th October 1856'.

Cf. L Yang, Translucent World, Chinese Jade from the Forbidden City, p.190-191. no.129 for a related vase.