A celadon jade magnolia-shaped washer

The washer is freely carved in the form of a large magnolia blossom, with a boss-shaped central pistil, all borne on carved and pierced interlaced stems with two further smaller matching flowers, as well as leaves and buds. The stone is of light celadon colour with some  paler flaws and areas of brownish suffusion.

Provenance:
Bonhams New York, 10th September 2018, lot 55

Washers like the present one, carved in the free and generous Ming style known as cu da ming, would have been appreciated by contemporary scholars, embodying as they do the untramelled spirit the scholars sought in their poetry and painting, as well as being very practical. For a related washer carved with flowers, see 中國玉器全集 5 隋·唐—明 “The Complete Works of Chinese Jade 5 Sui·Tang-Ming”, p. 210.

Dimensions: Length: 15.8 cm, 6 ¼ inches

Date: Ming dynasty (1368-1644)

Stock No. 2262

Price: On Request