CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, XVIIIEME-XIXEME SIECLE

The origin of a series of vessels with goat-head handles, or goat-head spouts (in the case of tea or wine pots) is to be found in the Imperial Collection in Taiwan, cf. Catalogue of a Special Exhibition of Hindustan Jade in the National Palace Museum, 1983, pp. 174 and 175, pl. 25. Compare to a similar jade washer illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Jadeware (III), Hong Kong Commercial Press, 1995, no. 161. The acquisition of the precious Hindustan vessels inspired the Qianlong Emperor to have court lapidaries produce similar vessels, which consequently influenced jade carving for the Court in general. The entire range of wares can, therefore, be reasonably dated to the period between about 1756 and 1799 and to the Imperial workshops.