Longevity, Gracious Plants Bottle of a Imperial Russet Jadeite(翡玉長生君子甁)
Production year (1736~1795 in Qing dynasty)
Size (25cm x17cm x 8cm)
Weight (1.8kg)
Work
name(natural jadeite carving)
Production method (handmade)Material type (separated type in two units)
Content:
2 Plum tree and Reddish Flower,
6 Common Indian kingfisher, 4 Butterflies, 1 Pine tree, 2 Bamboos,
Rock
This work expressed
powerful patience of life with the Four Gracious Plants red Japanese apricot flower,
the symbol of lucky sign, live ever-young with The ten traditional symbols of
Longevity pine, bamboo, and rock, toast with red butterfly, hope with
kingfisher, of which elaborate artistry of imperial family style, refined
artistry, and rarity of material make it a jadeite carving masterpiece much more excellent than Jadeite
Cabbage with Insects(翠玉白寀 cuìyù
báicài) of The National Palace Museum in Taiwan
2. Rarity of material and excellence
Major material of the
surface of this work is red jadeite, which is very rare and excellent. It was
more rare during Qing dynasty, currently also there's no discovered case.
3. Carving technique
Delicate, exquisite,
very excellent and superior carving beyond belief, even it is difficult to
believe that jade craftsman(玉匠)
worked.
Before 1900s,
electric cutting tool and useful abrasive did not exist, therefore, they were
manufactured by handiwork, accordingly, it required long time, inherent with
spirit and passion of sculptor, which implies coexistence of moment(瞬間) of instant and long
time(多時) of endurance that did not allow a small
mistake in workmanship process.
This work is mystical
and ethereal(靈妙) marvel treasure(稀世珍寶) that Taoist hermit(神仙) carved with spiritual ax(鬼斧).
When examining the sculpture shape of cast
shape, overall surface of work was composed of red Japanese apricot flower,
which made the stem of Japanese apricot flower and branch composition balanced,
petal of Japanese apricot flower was expressed delicately and exquisitely by
separating the center and the outside, maximizing beauty by grouping the
flower, above it, figure of red butterfly was elegantly
carved
6 kingfishers were elegantly expressed in each
shape and position, bamboo and the leaves were very realistically delicately
expressed by tujo technique, knots were expressed hard and powerful, and pine
was produced by highly difficult sculpting based on the traditional pattern of
Qing dynasty.
When examining with
sculpture structure technique, body was expressed with round shape(丸彫) and relief (浮彫) on the whole, and the side of body was perfectly expressed with
open work(透雕), piece body was dualized and the
separated inside of upper and lower parts were dug deeply like a pot.
Production and use of jade accessories
and jade handicrafts(玉器) of white jade (light green jade) were widely spread
by receiving cultural renaissance since Qianlong emperor (1736 ~ 1796),
accessories were mainly jade twin rings and binyeo, jade carvings were Tripod
Censer and Cover(蓋爐), vase(华甁), animal carving(deer, horse, etc.),
nevertheless there was almost no jade bowl under the theme of human, however
only small quantity of works of Taoist hermit (Queen
Mother of the West, (西王母), Shoulao(南極壽星), 8 hermits(八神仙), 麻姑)
made of other materials (horn of rhinoceros, bamboo, ivory) were produced.
Also, since 1750s, mid Qianlong
emperor, imperial family in court (皇家玉) culture was changed to
jadeite from jade. Court jade masters mainly produced jadeite carvings rather
than jade and created lots of masterpiece jadeite carvings, which culture came
to create masterpiece jadeite carvings in late Qing dynasty (1850 ~ 1911), influenced
by Empress Dowager Cixi.
Longevity, Gracious Plants Bottle of a Imperial Russet Jadeite was produced in
around 1750, mid Qianlong emperor of Qing dynasty, which was completed after
over 20 years' work by 2 jade masters (major jade master, assistant jade
master), as the governmental jade carving(官玉器) carved by court jade master.
4. Comparison with jadeite carving masterpieces
Jadeite experts
evaluated Jadeite Cabbage with Insects(翠玉白寀, below picture) The
National Palace Museum in Taiwan Taiwan as the best masterpiece of the
period, and evaluate Empress Dowager Cixi possession jadeite national treasure
jade article 17 pieces(below picture) produced during Qing dynasty and 4
national treasure jade articles (below picture) produced in modern time as the
greatest masterpiece.
Empress Dowager Cixi (西太后)possession National treasure jadeite carving
However, exquisite
artistry of Chinese royal family style of
Longevity, Gracious Plants
Bottle of a Imperial Russet Jadeite, refined artistry and rarity of material
cannot be denied with its excellence as the world number one masterpiece much
higher than Jadeite Cabbage with Insects(翠玉白菜), 17 National jadeite
carvings, and 4 pieces of jadeite carvings of 4 Chinese jadeite national
treasures,
there's no other work
ever has existed in history of Chinese jadeite carving like Longevity, Gracious Plants Bottle of a Imperial
Russet Jadeite,
As the result that
World famous professor, Dr. Tseng Su-liang (曾肅良), who majored in Chinese art history, visited Korea for
2 days, August 31 ~ September 1, 2015, and appraised the real article after
primarily appraising the photo and video of Queen
Mother of the West and fairy peach tree, it was definitely verified to be the work of late Qing dynasty. This is
the web address of Taiwan National College of Education and Graduate School
where professor Dr. Tseng Su-liang is posted.
Concrete evidences based on which doctor (曾肅良) supported originality of Longevity, Gracious Plants Bottle of a Imperial Russet Jadeite, produced during mid
Qing dynasty Qianlong emperor period. (1735~1796) were,
① surface is regular and smooth
as the classical tool manufacture on the jade surface through microscope
investigation (if it was modern electric tool, jade surface would have rotating
lines trace and levels.),
② there are small holes
on the jade surface, abrasive quartz remains,
③ oxidized crystal was
formed in small holes due to interaction between steel powder of traditional
tool, abrasive powder quartz, etc. which had been minutely left on the jade
surface, particularly, in case of Longevity,
Gracious Plants Bottle of a Imperial Russet Jadeite, there are 2 minute gaps where oxidized
crystals exist, such oxidized crystal phenomenon cannot be operated with modern
science,
④ cast sculptures based
on tujo and bujo are thin and exquisite, difficult to manufacture with electric
tool, and
⑤ cast sculptures
(butterfly, bird, Japanese apricot flower) are based on Gyeonryung period
style.
Dr. Su-liang Tseng(曾肅良 博士)
Dr, School of Museum Studies, University of Leicester,
UK.
Professor, Graduate Institute of Art History, National TaiwanNormal University
Professor, Graduate Institute of Art History, National TaiwanNormal University
5. Court jade masters
China had jade masters(玉匠) in the court(宮廷) since the ancient period, those jade
accessories and jade bowls that the jade masters manufactured were offered
mainly to the imperial family noble men and the emperor, also, jade masters
produced jade cloth(玉衣) for the death of the emperor
and imperial noble men, jade cloth is the shroud(殮服)
for funeral, made from the belief that the body would not decay and the soul
would not die if one wears(佩用) jade.(西京雜誌)
Wearing(佩用) of jade accessories and possession of jade articles during the
Chinese warring states period took an important role in determining the status
of feudal king and government officials, which influenced general people, also
became the origin of idiom literarily.
Currently in China, countless antique forgeries such as ancient painting,
ceramics, bronze articles, etc. are produced a day in Beijing (北京) and Xi'an (西安). Those forgeries are traded in each
antique market in China mixed with the original, Panjawian (瀋家園) of Beijing is most
famous for selling lots of genuine articles and forgeries.
Forgery dispute has existed also in famous Chinese auction company, not
only antique market, in 2011 below modern jade chair was appraised as Han(漢) dynasty antique (漢代靑黄玉龍鳳紋化粧臺), accordingly, auctioned off with around 32 million Usd, as much as
100 times of current price. Jade chair that caused forgery dispute.
Leezchunyang, a
professor of Beijing Central People's University, world authority of appraising
antique, determined that Chinese antique market is flooded with forgeries and
imitations, also, 95% of ceramics are forgeries.
However, jade articles mostly coincide with production period, nevertheless
there are some cases that modern small animal sculptures and incense burners,
carved simple and crude excluding value of work and artistry, were traded by
being appraised and auctioned off through turning to those produced during Qing
dynasty and Ming dynasty.
However, production period of ancient jade articles based on artistry is
over 10 years or specialty of completing over the generation, also, which are
made of original gemstone, raw materials were not processed primary differently
from ceramic, paper, silk, and steel, etc.
Due to the characteristic of natural gemstone, only 1 mistake might ruin
the whole work which had been produced for 10 years or the whole life, which
has specialty different from other art works. Ancient jade articles with
perfect artistry are created through great time and efforts, accordingly they
have rarity, also, those completed jade articles bear no dispute on period
fabrication in reality, furthermore, forgery dispute regarding the original,
forgery, and counterfeit is even more impossible.
7. Experts in Jade sculptures and evaluation of masterpiece
When investigating national treasure (below picture) jade articles
produced with classical tools during Qing dynasty, jadeite masters injected
lots of time and efforts, and the jadeite articles were produced by 2 jade
masters for at least 10 years, among them, some are presumed to have taken over
30 years.
When investigating jade production time considering classical tools,
abrasive, and processing technique of Qing dynasty, it took about 3 hours by 2
jade masters to perforate(穿孔) a circle hole of 3mm diameter with 5mm
thickness.
We salute on the jade article production that takes a long time this way,
also the birth of exquisite, delicate, elegant and brilliant masterpiece as
below with amazement at superhuman skill and efforts of jade masters.
However, in modern
period, unexpectedly, there are few experts who have discernment to
differentiate ancient jade articles(古玉器) produced by classical cutting and
polishing (切磋琢磨) method or discern modern jade articles
manufactured by imitating ancient jade articles with modern electric tool.
Also, according to famous jade experts' determination on masterpiece,
masterpiece jadeite articles should be definitely established with the concept
of jade article, each cast Carvings should be carved delicately and brilliantly
based on the concept, and beauty and refined Chinese taste should be expressed
from the completed jade article.
If the jadeite
article is inherent with artistry, value of work, rarity, and historicity, and
has refined Chinese taste, value of the article is considerable even it is a
modern product, considering the specialty of jade article. 4 Chinese national
treasure jade articles(岱岳奇观)、含香聚瑞、群芳览胜)、四海腾欢) were all produced
in 1980s,
however they were appointed as Chinese national treasure jade articles.
When investigating
jade articles that world number one fine arts auction companies submitted
during 1980 to 2012, and Chinese fine art auction companies during 2000 to
2010, there's almost no value of work or artistry, but the jade articles mainly
with antique beauty added with simple stories.
Nevertheless the jade articles produced in Yuan dynasty, Ming
dynasty, and Qing dynasty, those that depend on ancient beauty(古態美) and subjective esthetic sense without
definite theme have already reached the limitation in artistry of jade article
and price competitiveness, however the imperial treasure added with simple
story recorded highest price or most of them were composed of incense burner,
etc. produced by Qing dynasty jade masters, even they have been exhausted since
2012.
Sotheby's and Christies, world famous fine arts auction companies,
submitted Chinese jade articles leaning too much to antique beauty of story or
very restrictedly due to too much worry about forgery, also, due to limited
submission to those that they already sold or based on genealogy which was sold
by the other company in the same field as a method based on safety, jade
articles with artistry has disappeared since 2013.
However, Chinese
fine arts auction companies is gradually progressing a direction to release
masterpiece jade articles bearing risk by changing the direction to the
artistry and value of work of the jade articles themselves boldly excluding
genealogy since 2010. (As in the above, when the jade articles were submitted
based on artistry and value of work excluding genealogy, there were some
incidents as Jade Chair, however big stream of initial submission of
masterpiece jade article would be continued.)
Since China has grown to be number 1 of the world in respect of 41%
of domination over the world fine arts auction market already in 2010, which has
established a solo system in 2014 by occupying 50% of the world market. (In
2010, world fine arts auction market domination rate of the U.S. is 24%,
Britain 19%.) In this circumstance, major Chinese fine arts auction
companies have grown by being fully supported by Chinese government, also, most
of highest price fine art works are Chinese. China is presently
constructing 1,000 museums from 2010 to 2025, concentratedly growing cultural
industry to become a cultural power, which is related to domination rate over
the world fine arts auction market.
Henceforth, there's a great possibility
that jade articles would be the highest price record in Chinese fine arts
auction within 10 years. Because, as in the above, jade article is one item of
Chinese ancient fine art works in the situation that China is concentratedly
growing cultural industry, also, leading item can be jade article in the
circular changing phenomenon of ancient fine arts auction culture, and it is
natural considering cultural emotion of China on jade articles. So far the
articles that have lead ancient fine arts have been still ceramics.
Jade articles
have been daily necessities as well as belief that have been with Chinese
people's life, which have cultural pride created since the ancient country
before Bronze-ware culture, also, they has the essential condition to be evaluated
higher than other fine art works, as they appear in Chinese ancient book and
history.
8. Origin and
types of Jade
The word Jade
was originated from a common Indian kingfisher and it is a bird of
Coraciiformes lcedinidae. Jade was named after the feathers of this bird and
the meaning and sound of Chinese characters are a common Indian kingfisher with
red feathers fěi(翡) and a common Indian kingfisher with green feather cuì(翠) and the correct name is hóng fěi lǜ cuì(紅翡綠翠)
Oriental concept of
jade is not only one mineral but precious minerals used for Jewelerys and
crafts are all named jade, also, ruby is named red jade, sapphire is called
blue jade, nephrite is called the soft jade, and jadeite is called
the hard jade.
In the West, people
generally call jade (Jadeite, Nephrite) as JADE and it was named as “Piedra De Ijada” meaning “Colic Stone” to see that when Spain invaded in Mexico, native people
warmed it and wrapped around the waist to treat kidney disease. Dr. Monardes of
Spain first wrote it as letters in 1569 and then, it was changed into IJADA and
then IJDDE and now used as JADE.
On the other hand, a
mineralogist, professor A. Damour classified jade into Nephrite and then
determined Jadeite as an independent mineral in 1863. However, though different
minerals from the mineralogical perspective, Nephrite and Jadeite are
collectively used as Jade because they have been customarily used for a long
time.
As seen earlier,
there are two types of jade, Nephrite and Jadeite. First, Jadeite is Pyroxene
family mineral also called as jadeite and usually has a beautiful color of
Emerald Green (Green Jadeite) and mainly used as ornaments such as rings or
brooches etc. Its hardness is 7 and it is harder than Nephrite and is used as
jewelry due to its beautiful color and expensive. Prior to the Ching Dynasty,
very small amount was excavated in some regions of China but rarely used as
trinkets and ornaments.
Green jadeite began
to be imported in earnest after the 17th century. The chief producing district
of green jadeite is Myanmar (former Burma) and it was found in Metamorphic
rocks dykes of Ur Valley near Yunnanju Mogaung, the Border area in northern
China. After starting to be known as Yunnan Jade because the border line
between China and Myanmar was not clear for a long time, the Chinese dominated
and mined green jadeite mines and therefore, the chief producing district was
thought as China. In 1951, the border was clearly set and the above areas are
all located in Myanmar. Jadeite has several colors such as green, orange red,
yellow, purple, brown, red etc. and before the Ching Dynasty, vermilion was
mainly meant.
The finest green
jadeite produced in Myanmar is called Imperial Jade, which has translucent
emerald green light, that displays fantastic heavenly color (translucent dark
green). Price of the finest green jadeite, mainly used for jewellery, is more
expensive than diamond, unimaginably expensive.
In Hong Kong
Sotheby's auction held in April, 2014, jade necklace produced late Qing was
auctioned off at around 214 million Hong Kong dollar, new owner of this
necklace harmonized with 27 jadeite beads was French luxury brand 'Cartier'.
(The auction experts expect Empress' jade necklace made of 108 jade beads, not
yet opened, would be auctioned off over 800million Hong Kong dollar.
Imperial Russet
Jadeite is the best among Jadeite until green Imperial Jadeite imported
from Myanmar(former Burma)before, however Imperial Russet
Jadeite was found in graves of An ancient Chinese imperial court and high
officials, so many Jadeite experts recognize Imperial Russet
Jadeite as the best among Jadeite until today
Next, Nephrite is
amphibole family mineral and its hardness is 6 ~6.5 and is weaker than that of
Jadeite but tenacity is stronger so it was carved and used as beautiful
ornaments such as plates, cups, jars etc. since ancient times in China. There
are a variety of colors such as white grey or dark green etc. and translucent
Nephrite was reborn as many works of art due to its beauty. The chief producing
district of Nephrite gemstone used in sculpture in China is not known for sure
but it has been mined in some provinces such as Khotan of Central Asia xinjiang
uyghur autonomous region etc.
Among them, jade sheep oily skin (羊脂玉), evaluated as the best jade, or pure
white jade(純白玉) are mined in
various production areas, jade of sheep oily skin, color is pure white(白玉) with gloss in the cover(外皮) like sheep oil(羊脂) lump, of which shape is like
concretion of tissue structure.
Below white jade
stamp and vase are typical , jade sheep oily skin (羊脂玉). bove all, white square stamp is sized
length and breadth around 12.9 cm, auctioned off at at Sotherby's auction in
October, 2010 USD15,680,467, white jade
round stamp, sized height 6.4cm, auctioned off at USD12.290,000, the vase,
sized height 28 cm, was auctioned off at USD 4,274,265 at Christie's auction in
November, 2011.
An imperial white
jade seal commissioned by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty in the 18th
century was sold to an Asian buyer for US$12.29 million ($8m) breaking the
world auction record for both white jade and imperial seals.
Also, Russet
Nephrite is traded with higher price than , jade sheep oily skin, since it is
not differentiated from Russet Jadeite with its appearance, below ancient horn
shape glass ( Archaistic Rhyton) is height 22.5cm, which was traded
at USD $776,436 at Christie's auction in
November, 2011.
Furthermore, the material quality formed with , jade sheep oily skin and
Russet Jadeite are popular with very unique material quality, 'Deer lying on the
floor', sized length about 14cm, auctioned off at USD 6,000,000 at British
Dorset auction in November, 2010.
10. Chinese love
for jade
Jade called as color of paradise to Chinese appears all
walks of life. Carrying it in the body, all bad lucks go away and putting it in
the house and office to bring good luck and as a gift that a man proposed to a
woman, butterfly decorations are often presented.
We have briefly extracted phrases regarding jade from
Chinese ancient books or history books.
① (禮記) (玉藻篇), (檀弓篇)
Noble men should live
with jade, virtue of noble men and jade are similar. 君子無故, 玉不去身. 君子於玉, 比德焉
Jade does not become
carving without polishing, people do not know truth without learning.
玉不琢 不成器 人不學 不知道
If one bathes and wears jade, good fortune comes. (沐浴佩玉則兆)
② Cutting and Drilling a
hole, polishing(切磋琢磨) of (衛風篇)
of the Book of Odes(詩經) and(學而篇)
of the Analects of Confucious(論語)
a favorite
disciple of Confucius(子貢) asked Confucius(孔子), as a
jade stone is cut, swept with a cord, pecked with a chisel, and polished by
grinding as in Book of Odes(cutting and polishing, four processes of producing
jade article[切磋琢磨]), is learning knowledge or
practicing virtue is same as jade producing process, Confucius said, Jagong,
it's proper time to discuss the Book of Odes, you know the future when you
learned the past."
子貢曰 詩云 如切如磋 如琢如磨 其斯之謂與 子曰 賜也 始可 與言詩已矣 告諸往而知來
者.
③ Sima Qian History
record (Sagui) (司马迁《史记》中, 廉颇蔺 相如列传其险恶 完璧歸趙)
Return of perfection(完璧歸趙) originated from an
ancient event that(藺相如), a vassal of the age of civil
wars (趙) dynasty returned with(和氏璧), a precious jade carving, refusing (秦)
dynast king's demand with wit, who desired for it.
王必无人，臣愿奉璧往使.城入赵而璧留秦；城不入，臣请完璧归赵.赵王於是遂遣相如奉璧西入秦
Jade(玉) is a round bead(球), (璧) is a jade article, round and flat as
a coin, which has a hole in the center, and (完璧),
combined with jade(璧) and perfect(完) means an excellent jade article without any defect small as a
dust(瑕).
7. Empress Dowager Cixi(in Late Qing dynasty) and jade
As a royal concubine
of Emperor Hampung, Xici(1835.11.29.~ 1908.11.15.) bore Son Jaesoon and was
named as Xici and was also called as Empress Seo, Empress Dowager jahui or
Jahui Queen Mother. As the mother of Tóngzhìdì (1861~75 reign) and stepmother
of Emperor Guāngxù of Qīng (1875~1908 reign)
She ruled the Ching
empire for nearly half a century. She did not accept the new civilization due
to her reluctance for it and lived luxurious life. She especially liked jade
and her portrait tells that her gorgeousness went to extremes. She decorated
her hair with jade and wore a shoulder cloak with jade beads and pearls and
wore Jade bracelet on the wrist, jade ring in her finger and even jade
protection panel in the fingernails. She let servants set the table with
plates, cups, chopsticks made of jade and let them play with musical
instruments made of jade. She was the best mania of jade manias.
Since Emperor
Qianlong, China began to process Green Jadeite and use it as decorations in
earnest and celebrated cultural renaissance after extending the influence under
the reign of Kang Hsi, Emperor Yongzheng. At this time, several sovereign
Princely States paid tributes and some of the tributes were ornaments and
sculptures of ‘Green jade.’ Chinese people who had mostly
watched only scarlet, brown, white until then became fascinated by the beauty
of green jade, brilliant emerald color and the imperial family and nobles used
it regularly from that time. It is said that numerous jades paid as tributes
have been stored in the palace.
After taking over the
reigns of the Ching Dynasty, Xici is said to have owned all imperial jades. It
is said that there was zhū bǎo fáng(珠寶房) within Summer Palace and Imperial
Garden(頤和園) where Tz'uhsi stayed and countless jades were kept in
the zhū bǎo fáng and she cherished Mt. Kunlun fairy peach
(Disappeared after 1930, Queen Mother of the West and Her fairy peach Tree is highly
likely to be Mt. Kunlun fairy peach), jade watermelon(Disappeared after 1930),
Cabbage with Insects(翠玉白菜 cuìyù báicài Currently exhibited in National Palace
Museum of Taiwan)
She died on 1908.11.15. and was buried in Zun hua qing
dong ling(遵化清东陵) Tomb(located in
400Km to the north from Beijing) and all the imperial jades and many treasures
were buried together. And then, it is said that in around 1930, Cheongong Tomb
was dug by the National Revolutionary Army and some of jades were transferred
to the Revolutionary Army and the rest jades many treasures were missing. Some
jades transferred to the Revolutionary Army are displayed in National Palace
Museum of Taiwan.
(History records
the initial tomb theft of bronze tomb as National revolutionary army Son
ex-military director, however it had been robbed several times by
regional, native thieves (土匪) and Imperial tomb theft expert groups long
ago, precious articles had been leaked a lot, in the center, there are 馬福田, etc.)
If you are
interested, please send us an e-mail.
관심있으신 분께서는 메일주시기 바랍니다.
Contact information in Taiwan &
China
Joy Hsu(Natural History Museum in Korea Vice
Head Curator )
Email. Joyhsutaiwan@gmail.com
Mobile Phone: +886.909.225588
Address: 13F, No. 25 Chunghsiao I Road, Linkou District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC
Empress Dowager Cixi (西太后)possession National treasure jadeite carving Video
Email. Joyhsutaiwan@gmail.com
Mobile Phone: +886.909.225588
Address: 13F, No. 25 Chunghsiao I Road, Linkou District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC
Empress Dowager Cixi (西太后)possession National treasure jadeite carving Video
(Key
words: Rocks Minerals & Gemstones, Gemstones of the World, Paradise of
Gemstones, Primary ore book, Knowledge Encyclopedia, Mineral Encyclopedia,
Gyunryungje, Tz'uhsi etc.)
Copyright and related laws of any problem, please feel free to
contact us. We will take a measure immediately.
Wonderful.pdf
댓글 없음:
댓글 쓰기