The Chinese Jade Collection of Mrs R. Gladwyn @ Bonhams

The Collection of the Late Lieutenant Colonel R.F.C. Gladwyn and the late Mrs R. Gladwyn Lt. Col. Gladwyn served in Korea from 1952 to 1953 and was then posted to Hong Kong, where he served from 1953 to 1955 and was joined there by his family. The collection of Chinese jade carvings and ceramics was formed during the stay in Hong Kong. He had an eye for detail and collected these works of art because he thought they were beautiful. Their intricate designs and small details fascinated him, and he admired the great skills of the craftsmen who made them. The collection is a testament to his fine collector's eye. This collection is sold by Order of the Executors

A rare large white jade rhyton cup, 18th century © 2002-2010 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

The well-hollowed vessel emerging from the open jaws of a horned makara dragon with a bifurcated tail, separated by a rope from two frolicking chilong dragons emerging from clouds, the rim with a key-fret border, the stone of grey-white tone with minor russet and opaque white inclusions, carved wood stand, box, 17.1cm (6¾in) high (3). Estimate: £10,000 - 15,000, HK$ 120,000 - 180,000, USD 16,000 - 24,000

Provenance: the Collection of Lieutenant Colonel Gladwyn and Mrs R. Gladwyn
Purchased on 18 September 1954 from Jade House, Hong Kong, for HK$500.

A rare yellowish-green jade archaistic tripod incense burner. Ming Dynasty © 2002-2010 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

The cylindrical vessel carved with three taotie masks divided by double cross-hatched flanges below the galleried rim with a key-fret border, raised on three hollowed mask supports, the stone of yellowish-green tone with russet inclusions, box; 8.7cm (3⅜in) diam. (2). Estimate: £5,000 - 8,000, HK$ 61,000 - 98,000, USD 7,900 - 13,000

Provenance: the Collection of Lieutenant Colonel Gladwyn and Mrs R. Gladwyn

A rare pale green jade vase. Incised Qianlong four-character mark and of the period © 2002-2010 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

Finely carved as a slender tapering vase rising to the waisted neck and galleried rim, flanked by a pair of stylised archaistic dragons, all raised on cloud scrolls and flanked by two phoenix, their feather tails held high, the stone of pale green tone with mottled white inclusions, the mark incised on the rim, stand, box; 15.8cm (6¼in) high (3). Estimate: £5,000 - 8,000, HK$ 61,000 - 98,000, USD 7,900 - 13,000

Provenance: the Collection of Lieutenant Colonel Gladwyn and Mrs R. Gladwyn
Purchased on 3 March 1954 from Jade House, Hong Kong, for HK$200.

A pale green jade 'dragon' cup, 18th century © 2002-2010 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

The oval cup well carved with an archaistic border of raised bosses inspired by Han Dynasty bronzes, flanked by two five-clawed dragons carved in high relief, the first clambering over the cup with its claws holding onto the archaistic register and over the rim, the finely-detailed head raised high, the second dragon pacing around the cup looking up at the other dragon, the stone of pale green tone with minor black inclusions and a yellowish tinge to the base, wood stand, box; 14.3cm (5⅝in) high (3).- Estimate: £3,000 - 5,000, HK$ 37,000 - 61,000, USD 4,700 - 7,900

Provenance: the Collection of Lieutenant Colonel Gladwyn and Mrs R. Gladwyn

The vessel is inspired by archaic forms and patterns and follows the Qianlong Emperor's advocation of return to the ancient culture with its intrinsic qualities of sincerity, simplicity and happy exuberance.

The raised bosses on the central register are similar to those adorning Han Dynasty jade vessels, though the flattened cylindrical form, use of a central border and the chilong dragon, are closer to Song Dynasty jade vessels; for a Song Dynasty example, see The Oriental Ceramic Society, Exhibition of Chinese Jades, London, 1948, Catalogue no.91.

Three jade carvings, 18th/19th century © 2002-2010 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

Comprising: a white jade carving of a recumbent water buffalo, with its head resting on the front left leg, the tail flicked over one side and the rope trailing on its back, the stone of white-pale green tone with minor russet inclusions, stand, 5.5cm (2⅛in) wide; a white jade carving of a goat and two young with a lingzhi sprig, the stone of white-pale green tone, stand, 5.3cm (2⅛in) wide; a white jade carving of a horse with a monkey riding on its back holding a peach spray in one hand and the reins in the other, stand, 4cm (1½in) wide; together with an agate belt hook, the terminal carved as a dragon-head, box, 12.7cm (5in) long
(8). Estimate: £3,000 - 5,000, HK$ 37,000 - 61,000, USD 4,700 - 7,900

Provenance: the Collection of Lieutenant Colonel Gladwyn and Mrs R. Gladwyn
The 'three goats' carving possibly relates to the invoice dated 18 November 1954, from Jade House, Hong Kong, noting a 'white Jade sheep with stand', purchased for HK$40.

A pair of pale green jade bowls, 18th century © 2002-2010 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

Each with rounded sides rising to the flared rim, raised on a spreading foot, the pale green stone worked to a high polish, two wood stands, box; 9.9cm (3⅞in) diam. (5). Estimate: £3,000 - 5,000, HK$ 37,000 - 61,000, USD 4,700 - 7,900

Provenance: the Collection of Lieutenant Colonel Gladwyn and Mrs R. Gladwyn
The present lot may be related to the invoice dated 2 September 1955 from Jade House, Hong Kong, with two entries of 'jade cup with stand', sold each for HK$50.

A pale green jade rhyton cup, 17th/18th century © 2002-2010 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

The vessel emerging from the open jaws of a makara dragon, the handle formed from a chilong dragon standing atop the curved tail of the makara dragon and looking over the rim, the sides carved in low relief with two further chilong dragons, the stone of pale green tone with russet streaks, wood stand, box; 10cm (3⅞in) high (3). Estimate: £1,500 - 2,000, HK$ 18,000 - 25,000, USD 2,400 - 3,200

Provenance: the Collection of Lieutenant Colonel Gladwyn and Mrs R. Gladwyn
Purchased on 2 September 1955 from Jade House, Hong Kong, for HK$100.

A pale green jade 'double-gourd' group, 18th/19th century © 2002-2010 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

Intricately carved as two double gourds suspended from a gnarled branch with large veined leaves, with two butterflies resting on one of the gourds, the stone of pale green tone with minor russet streaks, wood stand, box; 8.4cm (3¼in) high (3). Estimate: £1,500 - 2,000, HK$ 18,000 - 25,000, USD 2,400 - 3,200

Provenance: the Collection of Lieutenant Colonel Gladwyn and Mrs R. Gladwyn
Purchased on 23 August 1955 from Jade House, Hong Kong, for HK$45

A green jade rectangular table screen, 18th/19th century © 2002-2010 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

Carved with a scholar holding a gnarled staff, possibly Shoulao, with an attendant by his side holding a peach and a deer under pine and prunus trees, all in an undulating mountainous region, with streams below and a bat in flight amidst the cloud scrolls above, the stone of greyish-green tone, all set within a wood frame supported on a wood stand; The jade screen including frame 17.1cm (6¾in) wide (2). Estimate: £1,000 - 1,500, HK$ 12,000 - 18,000, USD 1,600 - 2,400

Provenance: the Collection of Lieutenant Colonel Gladwyn and Mrs R. Gladwyn.

An agate 'chrysanthemum' cup, 18th/19th century © 2002-2010 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

The thin translucent walls finely carved with two registers of chrysanthemum petals rising to the flared lobed rim, emerging from a chrysanthemum blossom forming the spreading foot, each side with a pair of dragon-head loose-ring handles, wood stand, box; 12.3cm (4⅞in) wide (3). Estimate: £1,000 - 1,500, HK$ 12,000 - 18,000, USD 1,600 - 2,400

Provenance: the Collection of Lieutenant Colonel Gladwyn and Mrs R. Gladwyn

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Art, 11 Nov 2010. New Bond Street www.bonhams.com