An Exceptionally fine and Rare Chinese Imperial White Jade Teapot and Cover Qing Dynasty...

An Exceptionally fine and Rare Chinese Imperial White Jade Teapot and Cover Qing Dynasty Qianlong Period 1736-95 20cm long, 11.8cm high. Carved from an even white stone with a compressed circular body, a chrysanthemum knop and a slightly flared rectangular section footrim, the C-scroll handle with two grooves which terminate in short scrolls, unmarked, bears two paper exhibition labels. (2) Provenance Hinton Daniell Stewart (1835-1926) of Strathgarry, Perthshire, and thence by descent. Hinton Stewart went to China as a young man and is believed to have acquired this piece on his return to the UK in the 1880s. He founded the firm of Stewart Thompson and Sons, Manchester Cotton Merchants. Exhibited The International Exhibition of 1871, and 1886, on loan by D J Kay. Catalogue note It is probable that this piece was made towards the end of the Qianlong reign, when large jade boulders of this quality became available. This teapot relates closely to one sold at Sotheby's in Hong Kong on 31st October 2004, lot 233. For other fine white jade teapots see Jadeware III, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong 1995, pls.212-214.