White mutton fat jade, excellent surface polish, with original ebony base, in fitted box China, Qianlong period This Qianlong period masterpiece displays superior carving quality with stellar attention to detail, best visible at the intricate fur of the beast or the archaistic décor of the vase. The Buddhist lion appears to be guarding the archaistic vase which could have been used as a brush holder. The vase is adorned with neatly incised Taotie masks and geometric patterns, the lion with curly hair, an expressive spine and a bushy tail. Jade vases modelled in the form of archaic gu bronzes were popular in the 18th century. This piece is an outstanding example though – due to its figural shape and the most precious mutton fat material. Rounding off the composition is the masterly carved original ebony base in form of a table in a garden with lingzhi funguses. Shape: Figural shape Dimensions: 12,4 cm (maximum extension, measured from tip of vase to tip of tail), 9,5 cm (height), 7,5 cm (length), 6 cm (width); Height with base 12 cm Condition: Excellent condition with fine hand patina Provenance: American private collection - acquired 1973 at C.C. Tih gallery in Hong Kong (see published original invoice) Literature comparison: For three other 18th century white jade gu-shaped vases see Sotheby’s, FINE CHINESE JADES FROM THE THOMPSON-SCHWAB COLLECTION, 09 NOVEMBER 2016, LONDON, lot 1 - Sotheby’s, IMPORTANT CHINESE ART, 13 SEPTEMBER 2017, NEW YORK, lot 222 and Christie’s, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, New York, 21 - 22 March 2013, lot 1388. For a mutton fat white jade carving of a Buddhist lion seal see Sotheby’s, FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART, 08 OCTOBER 2009, HONG KONG, lot 1689. 乾隆年間重要羊脂白玉獅子方穀 羊脂白玉，表面光滑細膩，原裝烏木底座，盒子 中國，乾隆年間 這件幹隆時期的傑作顯示出當時卓越的雕刻技藝，細節精雕細琢，尤其體現在獅毛或花瓶古色古香的紋飾中。 佛獅作爲執柄守護著仿古花瓶。瓶身飾有整齊切割的饕餮紋和幾何圖案，獅子擁有捲曲的鬃毛，富有表現力的脊柱和濃密的尾巴。 以古代青銅器為樣式的玉器花瓶在十八世紀頗受歡迎。 這件作品顯然是一個傑出的例子，精美的雕紋與最珍貴的羊脂玉料。原裝烏木底座以桌子的樣式飾有靈芝紋， 構圖圓潤。 形狀：方穀形 尺寸： 12,4 cm (測量從花瓶尖端到底端的最大延伸) 9,5x7,5x6 cm (高x長x 寬); 底座高 12 cm品相極好，包漿細膩 美國私人收藏，購於1973年香港C.C. Tih藝廊 (見商業發票原件) 文獻參考：其他三件來自十八世紀的白玉穀形瓶可見蘇富比《來自THOMPSON-SCHWAB收藏的中國玉器》2016年11月9日，倫敦，1號拍品 – 蘇富比《重要中國藝術》，2017年9月13日，紐約，222號拍品以及佳士得《中國陶瓷與工藝品》，紐約，2013年3月21-22日，1388號拍品。一件羊脂玉雕佛獅印章可見蘇富比《中國陶瓷與工藝品》，2009年10月8日，香港，1689號拍品。