Price guide to antique Qianlong jade boxes. Under the patronage of the jade-loving Emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty, jade carvings enjoyed unprecedented growth and peaked. Another contributing factor was the steady inflow of raw materials from Khotan after His Majesty conquered the Uygur region of Eastern Turkistan in 1760, his 25th regnal year. All elements and conditions were perfectly in place for a thriving jade industry where an interesting phenomenon of diversity also emerged: the market’s taste diverging from the imperial preference, elegance and vulgarity coexisting, and the retro clashing with the trend. All added to the fun and richness of the period looks. Reference: National Palace Museum
A rare pale green and russet jade ‘bitter-melon’ linked box and cover
Qianlong
The box and cover naturalistically carved as a bitter gourd, skilfully carved around the exterior in varying levels of relief with an elaborate knobbly surface containing irregular bosses, the fruit borne on a gnarled stalk further issuing curling tendrils with a naturalistic beetle perching on the delicately ridged leaves, the stalk linked with a loop handle, the stone of pale celadon tone highlighted with attractive russet inclusions, wood stand. 11.2cm (4 3/8in) wide.
The box and cover demonstrates the remarkable skill and craftsmanship practiced in the jade ateliers reaching its peak during the Qianlong reign. The two perfectly fitting halves of the bitter melon and interlocking loose loop-handle joining them together are all carved from a single block of jade, which would have required consummate skill and precision.
Sold for HK$ 812,500 (£ 73,157) inc. premium at Bonhams in 2017
A WHITE JADE ‘PEACH’-FORM BOX AND COVER
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
The box and cover are finely carved in the shape of a peach, conjoined by a loose oval ring connecting the leafy branches together. A bat in flight is depicted to the top of the cover. The stone is of a pale tone, with minor snowy flecks.
4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm.) wide.
Sold for GBP 30,000 at Christies in 2015
Chinese spinach jade rectangular box, the hinged lid carved with a dragon amid clouds, with metal fittings and handles, the interior lined with wood panels, the base with an apocryphal Qianlong mark, 8.75″w
Sold For: $450 at Clars Auction Gallery in 2016
China, jade cylinder box with fitted cover, incised with dragon motif, Qianlong mark on base. Height: 3 3/4 in., Width: 1 1/8 in.
Sold For: $175 at Essex Auction and Estate Services in 2016
