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Looking through the cupboard I found this pretty little vase. This piece is carved from a pure white hetian jade boulder. A fine carving of the 1900s. Just something to share with the audience.

more pics of jade

Hi, Lee:

Not doubting your word, but had you ever tested it and see what kind of S.G. or hardness the material is? The ring is quite translucent and the luster inside the "vase" is almost too shinny. There also seems to be a very slight green tint on it. Now its texture does look like that of Hetian jade though.

Hi Bill and KK, this piece is Hetian and the jade color is white but it may have a slight green tinge in some light. Anyway I brought this piece to Christies HK a few years ago thinking it was qianlong and the chap told me it wasn't qianlong but late 19th, early 20th century and so not worth selling. There are several similar piece sold at Christies recently lot 33 sale 7431, lot 333 sale 1259 lot 74 sale 1179. I am a mainland Chinese, but I also live overseas in a Western country. KK lots of nice antiques in USA esp California and NY. Some fantastic stuff coming up at auctions at NY.

Lee,
you are sure have some very nice white jades from a number of your posts ! They are very difficult to photograph because camera have hard time focus on translucent material. You may try use Micron lens setting and take pictures in shadow area outdoor.

Are you in HK or main land? I am in US.

Lee,
I don't know about a lot of nice pieces here in America. The market changes so quickly, and so many main land dealers and auction house come here with suitcases of cash. At the same time, large number of better fakes and high end fakes came here and showed up in in regional auction houses.

Why not 18th Century? but 1900's ? It is hard to see the cravings in your pic, Can you show some pictures of details craving? Thanks!

I have a teapot which seemingly has the same material as your vase. The problem with the material, it scratches very easy. Did you check this aspect?
Ernest

Yes KK, I notice the same trend in almost all auctions. It is hard to bid against the rich and famous. I prefer to buy the medium priced pieces I know is authentic but is slightly flawed due to the quality of the stone but at least 18th century as there is not so much competition, but not common items. The other thing to look for is regional auctions of estates that are not well advertised so you don't get too much competition. Sometimes there can be unrealised treasures in such. The type of vendors that I would avoid are folks that import cheap junk and fakes from China to resell. They are the sort of junk that even mainland Chinese want to collect. It is better to buy a few pieces a year than a whole shelve full of bad quality pieces.

Ernest this jue cup is unscratchable with even a blade. It is not peking glass and has no bubbles.

Hi KK, There is a very nice piece of Yuan dragon plaque coming up on auction at Christies in NY on the 26th of March, lot 1087. It was taken from a hand mirror. the hand mirror also comes with the piece. I read the condition report and surprisingly this hand mirror also has solder where the handle attaches to the frame, just like mine. There are several boxes with old jade plaque used as decoration in the coming Sotheby's auction in NY as well. If my hypothesis is right they came from a period after Cixi's death and emperor Puyi was a child. This was the period where the palace was unguarded and the eunaches stole the palace treasures to be sold in antique shops through out Beijing. This one has a similar zitan stand to the Buddha hand jade vase in the treasure exhibit in the Palace Museum.

Lee,
The craving of the Yuan dragon plaque at Christies is amazing! I have seem a similar Yuen jade piece in Palace museum(?) before. I probably have a picture somewhere in my digital library. It look like they also have a good collection of Huanghuali and Zitan furniture at this sale too.

IMHO, lower temperature solder is typical for metal work round 1900's ( earlier too). Chinese used solder in in copper, brass, baitung etc. The reason probably is to reduce cost comparing to higher tem welding or one-piece casting.

Hi KK, yes that is the best piece I have seen in a while. You should buy it. There is a Qing collar with fantastic jade inlays and kingfisher feather.

Lee,i already spent too much money last week. If I have the money I probably buy a huanghuali piece.

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