Lot 119

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Description:

Rare Imperial Chinese gilt-bronze knife in carved white jadeite scabbard Qing dynasty, 18th century, lotus scroll-carved jade scabbard, mounted near opening in high relief with gilt-bronze ring; gilt-bronze hilt with conforming design, topped with leiwen-carved russet jade pommel, cast-steel blade with fuller down middle on each side; overall L13 1/2"

Provenance: Millicent Rogers
Arturo Peralta Romas II

Other Notes: It is very rare to find a pure white jadeite scabbard so intricately crafted with a matching gilt-bronze handle, representing such a fine example of the high standards of artistic production achieved in the 18th century. Compare a knife of this type with a jade handle and an intricately carved wood scabbard depicting a flowering lotus scroll, from the collection of Dr. Ip Yee, included in the exhibition Bamboo and Wood Carvings of China and the East, Spink and Son Ltd., London, 1979, cat. no. 277 and sold at Sotheby''s Hong Kong, 19 November 1984; another with jade handle and diaper-carved bamboo scabbard, sold at Christie''s New York, 21st September 2004, Lot 76; and pair of slightly smaller knives with carved jade handles and scabbards, sold in our London rooms, 7th June 1994, Lot 138. A similar gold knife with white jade handle and inlaid gold sheath was included in the exhibition Splendours of China''s Forbidden City, The Field Museum, Chicago, 2004, cat. no. 248, and is pictured in situ, cat. no. 250. The use of personal knives at meals was a mark of Manchu identity. Manchu men were supposed to cut their meat themselves so as to not fall into the decadent Han Chinese habit of eating their meat pre-cut. When eating sacrificial pork, women were also expected to cut up their own meat. Knives and other eating utensils formed part of the dowries of princesses and even maidservants (see the exhibition catalogue ibid., pp. 197-201).

    Condition:
  • scabbard end cap missing and small chip to edge. Otherwise appears to be in all original condition.


    *** Notice to bidders: The absence of a condition report does not imply that an object is free of defects or restoration. Condition reports are prepared by request on a 'first come, first served' basis. For more information please read paragraph #9 of Terms and Condition of Sale.

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March 2, 2017 11:00 AM EST
West Columbia, SC, US

Charlton Hall

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