Kui Purity

Probably imperial, 1720-1840
Height: 5.93 cm
Mouth/lip: 0.69/2.00 cm
Stopper: coral; silver collar

Provenance:
Gerry P. Mack Collection
Christie’s, South Kensington, 1 January 1999
Dynasty Arts, October 2012

 

Translucent, almost flawless white nephrite; with a flat lip and recessed flat, oval foot surrounded by a protruding flat, oval foot rim; carved on each main side with  confronting kui dragons forming the character long 龍 (‘dragon’), the two continuous bodies each with two heads, one a fenghuang  

Alexander Whittaker