A SPINACH-GREEN JADE 'DRAGON' MOONFLASK, BIANHU 19th century (2)A SPINACH-GREEN JADE 'DRAGON' MOONFLASK, BIANHU19th centuryThe broad, flattened body rising from a short stepped foot to a waisted neck and lipped rim, the neck flanked by a pair of scrolling handles, each side decorated with a central medallion enclosing a full-faced five-clawed dragon, limbs outstretched and soaring sinuously around a flaming pearl amidst wispy clouds, surrounded by five clusters of clouds each interspersed with a bat, the stone of even dark green tone with some cloudy inclusions, zitan stand. 21cm (8 1/4in) high (2).十九世紀 碧玉浮雕龍紋抱月瓶Provenance: James Basil Wilson and Julia Wilson, acquired prior to 1979, according to insurance valuation by William Clayton Ltd. and thence by descentIn 1945, James Basil Wilson returned from The Second World War having served with the Gurkhas. He married Julia Burke in 1949 and they moved to London. James started working for Iron and Steel Exporters and later that year, he was offered the chance to set up an office Hong Kong, so they moved there and set up home. The business was successful, they loved Hong Kong and they lived the life of ex-patriates to the full. They swam, played golf, made friends and indulged their passion for fast cars, competing in amateur road races. Julia claimed to have won at the first Macau Grand Prix. As well as enjoying the pastimes of the culture they brought with them, they developed an enduring love for China, Chinese people, Chinese food and Chinese art. With a growing family, they returned to England in 1957. They brought with them the pieces they had bought in Hong Kong and James made many trips to Hong Kong and continued to build their collection throughout the following decades mainly from dealers in London.來源：James Basil Wilson與Julia Wilson伉儷舊藏。據倫敦古董商William Clayton Ltd.開具的保險估值報告，於1979年以前入藏，並由後人保存迄今James Basil Wilson二戰期間曾於廓爾喀軍團服役，1945年返回英國。 1949年與Julia Burke結婚，婚後搬至倫敦，並開始為Iron and Steel Exporters效力，同年被委任籌備香港辦事處，遂移居香港。事業發展蒸蒸日上的同時，Wilson伉儷也充分享受著外派人士的理想生活；游泳、打高爾夫、結交朋友，沉迷賽車運動甚至參加業餘車手街道賽，Julia聲稱曾完賽首屆澳門格蘭披治大賽車。在保留西方生活方式的同時，Wilson伉儷也對中國及其民眾、美食和藝術產生了長久的熱情。 1957年，隨著家庭的不斷壯大，Wilson一家回到英國，並帶回了其在香港購置的藝術品。此後，James多次前往香港，並在接下來的幾十年中持續造訪倫敦的古董商，擴充藏品。While Imperial 'dragon' moonflasks were popular in porcelain during the Qianlong period, they are relatively rare in jade. See a related spinach-green jade vase and cover, with frontal facing dragon surrounded by the bajixiang and clouds, illustrated in The Baur Collection: Chinese Jades and Other Hardstones, Geneva, 1976, B.91.Compare with a related white jade 'dragon' moonflask, Qianlong, which was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 13 October 2021, lot 3610. See also a large carved spinach- green jade moonflask and cover, Qianlong/Jiaqing, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29 May 2013, lot 2337.