A LARGE JADE 'QILIN' ARCHAISTIC VESSEL AND COVER,...

A LARGE JADE 'QILIN' ARCHAISTIC VESSEL AND COVER, RHYTON
China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century
Carved as a winged unicorn / qilin standing four squares and turning its head, with chi dragons climbing up its back up to the top part with a lid topped by a finial also shaped as a chi dragon. With a large opening on the top unveiling a well hollowed inner part. Offered at auction with a matching wooden stand.
H (with stand): 29 cm - H (without stand): 26 cm - L: 13 cm - w: 5,5 cm
Weight: 1750 grams

Provenance:
> Private collection;
> Carlos Alfredo Tornquist Altgelt (1885-1953), O. Ramos Oromi y Cia, Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 27th, 28th and 29th 1936, lot 282.
> Joseph Vallot (1854-1925), Drouot, Paris, Messrs Lair-Dubreuil and Portier, November 16th, 17th, 18th 1925, lot 42.

Notes:

1. Compare with a related piece at public auction, whilst of smaller size, Sotheby's London, 2008/11/05, lot 180.

2. Carlos Alfredo Tornquist Altgelt (1885-1953) was the President of the banking house of Ernesto Tornquist Co., Ltd., and a member of a prominent Argentinian family. A person of influence, he is also known to have played a crucial role in helping to avoid a war between Argentina and Chile in 1902 by managing the British mediation in the border dispute. Throughout the years, he maintained a close friendship with Argentina Presidents Julio A. Roca (1843-1914) and Carlos Pellegrini (1846-1906).

3. Joseph Vallot (1854-1925) was a French astronomer, geographer, naturalist, alpinist and patron of arts and sciences, who studied botanic and geology in Paris and later became the President of the Club Alpin Français. In 1875, he fell in love with Mont Blanc and later on built up the first observatory there called "Refuge Vallot" where he did install a Salon Chinois which received famous visitors including Pope Pius XI. His large collection of Chinese jades was sold at Drouot in 1925 as a signature / single collection / Estate Sale.