Description: The stone is of an even tone, with a narrow russet vein running along to the edge, excellent surface finish.
China, 12th-16th century
Published: The Property of Mr Philip Cardeiro, Carol Michaelson, Knapton Rasti Asian Art, London 2009, lot 14.
Carved and pierced with the angelic figure floating elegantly whilst wearing long flowing robes, celestial scarf and headdress with finely incised detail, and an openwork cloud scroll at the lower end.
Apsaras are often depicted as flying figures in the mural paintings and sculptures of Buddhist cave sites in China such as in the Mogao and Yulin Caves, and the Yungang and Longmen Grottoes, and may also be depicted as dancers or musicians. They are referred to as feitian (飞天) in Chinese.
Shape: Sculptural
Dimensions: Length 8.9 cm
Weight: 93,5 grams
Condition: Very good condition. Some miniscule natural flaws in the mineral and a minor deterioration of the mineral along the russet vein
Provenance: The Philip Cardeiro collection of Chinese jade, built from 1968 until the early 1990s
Literature comparison: For a northern Song example, see Jades from China, The Museum of East Asian Art, Bath, Forsyth and McElney, 1994, page 314, nr. 223. For a Tang Dynasty example, see Treasures of the Imperial Palace, Palace Museum Publications, Beijing, 1995, page 16, nr. 9.
Auction results comparison: The C. Philip Cardeiro Collection of Chinese Art. Christies, London, 13 May 2014, lot 17. (for a second white jade apsara from the Cardeiro collection)
白玉雕飛天女神像,明代或更早
均勻色澤,邊緣些許絲狀褐色沁,極佳的表面磨光
中國,12至16世紀
出版物:編號14,Philip Cardeiro先生珍藏品集,Carol Michaelson著,Knapton Rasti亞洲藝術品公司出版,倫敦,2009年。
品相極佳
美國知名收藏家C.PHILIP CARDEIRO先生珍藏品,於1968年至1990年代大量收藏中國藝術品。