Beschreibung:

The Victor Shaw Collection of Chinese JadesA white jade archaistic 'duck and lotus' group, Qing dynasty, 18th century邵維錫藏中國玉雕清十八世紀 白玉仿古銜蓮寶鴨
wood stand13.8 cmCondition reportThere are occasional minor flakes to the extremities, the largest measuring approx. 0.5cm to its left foot. The stone with natural veining and inclusions.
邊角處偶見細微剝落，最大者約0.5公分，位於左足。玉有天然綹紋、含沁。
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE.Catalogue noteThe decoration incorporating the archaistic scrolling motifs to the plumage of the present piece demonstrates the Qianlong Emperor’s fascination with archaic and ancient objects. The Emperor is recorded to have exhorted his court and craftsmen to look to China's archaic past for moral guidance and artistic inspiration. For related examples of archaistic jade ducks, see three carvings dated to the 18th century, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, illustrated by Michael Knight, He Li, Terese Tse Bartholomew, Later Chinese Jades: Ming Dynasty to Early Twentieth Century from the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, San Francisco, 2007, cat. nos 279, 280 and 283.
The original form and design for this archaistic ‘duck and lotus’ group would have been an archaic bronze vessel known as zhou fu zun, published in xuanhe bo gu tu (illustrated Catalogue of Antique Objects from the Xuanhe Hall), a catalogue on archaic bronze objects completed towards the end of the Xuanhe period (1119-25) of the Northern Song dynasty. For two examples of the bronze prototype from the Spring and Autumn period, see Rong Geng, Shang Zhou Yi Qi Tong Kao, vol. 2, Beijing, 1941, pls 694 and 695.
類似以仿古紋飾雕刻的寶鴨擺件，可比較三件於三藩市亞洲藝術博物館藏的十八世紀玉寶鴨，皆以方頭棱角處理整體線條，且雕琢仿古變體雲紋、雷紋、回紋為飾，見 Michael Knight、賀利及謝瑞華合著，《Later Chinese Jades: Ming Dynasty to Early Twentieth Century from the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco》，三藩市，2007年，編號279、280及283。
此式仿古寳鴨原型見於宣和《博古圖錄》，記為周鳧尊，見（宋）王黼等撰，《博古圖錄》，明萬曆十六年（1588）泊如齋刊本，卷七，頁10。然目前所見青銅鳧尊最早只能到春秋時期，且無提樑和瓶頸，參考兩件藏於日本之春秋青銅鳧尊，見容庚著，《商周彝器通考》，卷下，北京，1941年，編號694及695。