Antique Chinese Celadon & Russet Jade Dove Bird Staff Finial Song - Qing Dynasty For Sale

---

A charming Chinese celadon and russet jade staff finial, dating from the Song to Qing dynasty.

The finial carved from an attractive piece of celadon and russet coloured jade and in the form of a perched dove. The bird sits with folded wings, pronounced, elegant tail feathers and plump breast. The details of the bird's eyes, beak, plumage and head crest carefully and skillfully incised. Piercedat the bottomfor attachment.

During China's Han dynasty representations of the dove were awarded to men who had reached the age of 70 and were subsequently treated with greater respect from their community. According to the 5th Century Book of the Later Han Dynasty, doves were chosen as they could digest anything, and were thus auspicious gifts. Han dynastyrepresentations of these dove finials are most often found in bronze howeverand it is thought that a misreading of the original Han text led to the character for 'King' being interpreted as 'Jade', henceSong dynasty and latercreations of dove finials were in jade.

Another jade example from the collection of Wu Dacheng is illustrated in Gems of Chinese Art from the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, The Avery Brundage Collection, no. 49.

Fora similar example,with Sotheby's London please see the following link.

For a second example, sold at Christie's London November 2007 for over $9,800, please see the following link.

Length:70 mm or 2 3/4 inches.

Condition: Excellent condition, unrestored, minute chip to beak.

Provenance:

From the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Ezekiel Schloss.

Ezekiel Schloss is one of the most famous names in ancient Chinese ming-chi (terracotta figure) art. Together with his wife Lillian, he was a prolific collector, well respected authority and author of the major publication "Ancient Chinese ceramic sculpture from Han through T'ang". Schloss arrived in the US from Latvia in 1940. He was an accomplished cartoonist, working for many years at the New York times. The Schloss collection is rare in that it truly represents an educated collection of art; Schloss was immersed in Chinese ming-chi art and only collected good examples of specific types, as well as the unusual, the charming and the rare.

Please note: This is a highly collectible and genuine Chinese Jade staff finial from a prominent collection, offered with to promote our store and our other Ancient/ Antique Chinese artefacts.

Services & Partners:

This item has been shown times. Antique Chinese Celadon & Russet Jade Dove Bird Staff Finial Song - Qing Dynasty: $3,376