A WHITE AND RUSSET JADE 'MYTHICAL ANIMALS AND VASES' GROUP 18th centuryA WHITE AND RUSSET JADE 'MYTHICAL ANIMALS AND VASES' GROUP18th centuryOne vase of flattened archaistic gu form with a dragon chasing a flaming pearl carved around the upper body, flanked on one side by a zun-shaped vase supported on a swirling clouds stand, the other side with a double-vase on a mythical bird, the stone of white tone with russet inclusions. 17cm (6 3/4in) wide. 十八世紀 白玉三聯式扁瓶擺件Provenance: a Western private collection, and thence by descent來源：西方私人收藏，並由後人保存迄今Finely carved in the round in the form of archaistic vases based on the prototypes of wine vessels manufactured during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the present jade group displays the Qianlong emperor's penchant for innovative objects that were rooted in archaism. The emperor proposed to 'restore ancient ways', referring to the view of ancient culture as having intrinsic qualities of sincerity, simplicity and happy exuberance. For this purpose the emperor instructed the court to collect drawings of antiquities, such as the 'Xi Qing Gu Jian' (Catalogue of Xiqing Antiquities), which served as base of inspiration to the craftsmen. See Chang Li-tuan, The Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jades of the Ch'ing Court, Taipei, 1997, pp.49-50.The bird supporting the pair of vases on the far right may be identified as a 'heavenly bird' tianji, which is often mistaken for a phoenix. According to the Xuanzhongji or 'Records of Mysterious Phenomena' by the Eastern Jin scholar and writer Guo Pu (AD 276-324), there once lived a giant tree on Mount Taodu which was so immense it shaded an area of five thousand kilometres. The tianji was found perched on the tree while other birds mimicked its singing. Another 4th-6th century record also mentions the tianji as a bird that could fly a thousand miles high and whose flapping wings would produce thunderous sounds when outstretched.See a related jade phoenix vase but without cover, 18th century, illustrated by He Li, in Jade Chinois: Pierres D'Immortalité, Paris, 1997, p.188, no.123. Compare with a related celadon and russet jade 'phoenix and pine' vase group, Qianlong, which was sold at Christie's London, 15 May 2018, lot 53, and a very pale green jade archaistic 'heavenly bird' vase and cover, Qianlong, which was sold at Bonhams London, 5 November 2020, lot 165.public_sentiment_keywords: Jade +han ** Jade +qinis_parse: 20230413image: yuzhan_bonhams_item/51930665.jpgsold_price_type: £