A Chinese carved white jade incense holder

18th century

Sold with associated box.

L: 7 3/8, Dia: 1 5/8 in. (L : 18.73, Dia: 4.13 cm.)

Provenance: Mr. Williams, Texas. Mr. Williams has more than 50 years of collecting experience in Buddhist sculptures, paintings, and ritual objects from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet, and the Central Plains of China. He has participated in sales around the world including in Hong Kong and throughout Tibet and Europe.

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The incense holder is carved from Hetian white jade. Its upper and lower ends are engraved with a belt of hui patterns. The body is hollowed out with carvings of jagged mountains covered with pines, a pavilion on top, a zigzag mountain pass, and a waterfall. Within the mountains, there is a gentleman visiting his friend, along with his book boy. The scene is elegant and skillfully carved, with mountains as sharp as those depicted in a water painting; a common attribute of Qianlong period jade carvings. The white jade is delicate and lustrous, with a gentle and rich sheen. Such an exquisite jade piece could've only come from the imperial palace.

The Palace Museum, No. 00098874 figure 1;

The Albert Museum, No. 1652-1882, figure 2;

Christie's, May 2021, Lot 2720.

香筒爲和田白玉材質，直筒，上下沿陰刻回紋。筒體以鏤空浮雕嶙峋山石，山上多生蒼松翠柏，頂有亭臺坐落，其間山路曲折、長階迎客；中有飛瀑激湍、流水潺潺。高士山間訪友，童子手持書籍，山水人物十分雅緻。刻工下刀利落，特別是對山石的雕琢，類似繪畫中的斧劈皴效果，這種表現手法在乾隆時期玉雕中多見。香筒玉質細膩，光澤瑩潤。包漿濃郁溫潤，可謂良材精工，應出自宮廷造辦處，且保存完整，十分難得。

故宮博物院館藏，編號故00098874 見圖１；阿爾伯特博物館館藏，編號1652-1882 見圖２；佳士得拍賣2021年05月拍賣，編號2720。

With small chipping to interior of bottom rim.