Chinese Jade water coups or brush washers are necessary vessels on the Scholar's desk. Pure white Jade material is and was expensive and not for the general public. Royalty and wealthy, many being landowners were primarily the patrons for this art. Execution of the carver and designer were an intricate part of the commission. These type vessels were for exclusive clientele and not a stock item on the shelf for people to view and hopefully purchase. The design for this piece utilizing four boys represent the wish for many sons. Large size examples of coupes are rare and sought after by collectors worldwide. This example exemplifies Chinese artistry. Created with four boys carved in high relief holding a lotus flower and bowl with the base of leaves. Bright white semi-translucent material. Approximately 6" wide x 2 7/8" high. Minimal chipping and natural inclusions. Qing Dynasty.
Formally in the Belz collection, Memphis, Tennessee.
For A Similar Example:
Christie's New York, September 19, 2014 Sale #2872, Lot #1251:
Lot Description A RARE WHITE JADE 'POMEGRANATE AND BOYS' WATER VESSEL
18TH CENTURY
The thick-walled vessel is well carved as a large, ripe pomegranate borne on a leafy branch that rises from the base and around the sides where the leaves support three boys that cling to the sides, as one climbs up to the outcurved mouth rim. Each boy wears a short tunic and loose pants, and his hair is worn in two topknots. The stone is semi-translucent and of even tone.
5¾ in. (14.5 cm.) wide
Provenance
Colonel Robert Coleman Hall Brock (1861-1909) and Alice Gibson (1861-1925), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Henry Gibson Brock (1886-1940) and Margaret Cust Burgwin (1926-1961) Collection, Muncy, Pennsylvania, and thence by descent within the family.
Pre-Lot Text
Property from a Private Pennsylvania Collection
Price Realized: $173,000
Please Note As Listed By Christie's from Lot #1251 Sale #2872 September 19, 2014:
Jade water vessels of this type, where boys are shown around the sides of a fruit, appear to have been popular during the 18th century. Two such examples were included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition, Chinese Jade throughout the ages, Victoria and Albert Museum, May - June 1975, no. 419, a pomegranate supported by two similar boys, and no. 429, a double-gourd vessel with four boys standing around the sides. Both the pomegranate and the double gourd are symbols of fertility, as their numerous seeds are likened to having many children, and shown in combination with boys, they represent the wish for many sons.
For A Similar Jade Boys Cup:
Sotheby's New York - Fine Chinese Ceramic And Works Of Art March 18-19, 2014 Lot #304 Which Realized $245,000USD.
Lot Description
A CELADON JADE 'BOYS' CUP
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG / JIAQING PERIOD
the rounded cup finely carved in openwork on the exterior with three boys supported on rockwork interspersed with flowers, one boy peering into the cup, another with his head turned sideways, and the third with his back to the washer, one hand holding the rim and the other clasping a ruyi scepter, the greenish-white stone with several whitish veins, wood stand (2)
Length 5 in., 12.7 cm
Provenance Bulgari Collection, Rome.
Maria Cescatti Collection, Rome.
Eskenazi Ltd., London.
Exhibited
Early Chinese Metalwork in Gold and Silver: Works of Art of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Eskenazi Ltd., London, 2011, cat. no. 20.
Catalogue Note
It is rare to find cups carved with three boys, though a slightly smaller cup with two boys is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, p. 199, no. 163. See, also a twin boy handled cup with similar dating sold in these rooms, 23rd March 2004, lot 514; and another, of hexagonal form and dated to the Yuan dynasty, also sold in these rooms, 20th March 2012, lot 212.
SEE ENDING IMAGE FOR SOTHEBY'S LOT
For Another Similar Example:
Sotheby's Hong Kong - October 3, 2017 - Important Chinese Art:
A WHITE JADE 'BOYS' INCENSE BURNER
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD
finely modelled with deep rounded sides rising from four ruyi feet to an incurved rim, the handles formed from two boys fashioned in the round, with their arms and legs perched on the rim and the side of the vessel, one boy depicted holding a spray of nandina berries while the other clutching a ruyi sceptre in the hand, both dressed in loose fitting robes, their faces with a cheerful expression and the hair gathered into two topknots, the interior of the bowl worked in relief with a bat, the well-polished stone of a translucent even white colour
13 cm, 5 1/8 in.
PROVENANCE
Christie's New York, 23rd/24th September 1988, lot 252.
Spink & Son Ltd, London, 19th June 1998.
CATALOGUE NOTE
This jade incense burner is deftly modelled with two boys carved in the round playfully grasping the slightly incurved rim of the vessel. The even and translucent tone of the white stone is accentuated through the finely finished surface of the vessel which has been left undecorated. Compare a slightly smaller vessel of this form and with handles in the form of boys, but raised on bat-shaped feet, from the Qing court collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures in the Palace Museum. Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 163, together with one carved with a bat resting its wings on the rim, pl. 164.
Vessels of this type, with handles in the form of figures, follow prototypes made from as early as the Song dynasty. See for example a bowl attributed to the Song period, illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum. Jade, vol. 5, Tang, Song, Liao, Jin and Yuan Dynasties, Beijing, 2011, pl. 56.
Price Realized: 8,740,000 HKD (1,118,720 USD)
See Ending Image For Lot Details
