A PAIR OF SMALL JADE LIDDED URNS WITH...

A PAIR OF SMALL JADE LIDDED URNS WITH LOOSE RINGS
China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century
The body richly adorned in low relief with a covering decor of confronting kui dragons, the neck with stylised banana leaves and three loose rings, the conical-shaped lid also set with three loose rings. The inner parts very well hollowed.
H: 11,5 cm
Weight: 500 grams

Provenance:
> Private collection;
> Carlos Alfredo Tornquist Altgelt (1885-1953), O. Ramos Oromi y Cia, Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 27th, 28th and 29th 1936, lots 287 and 288;

> Joseph Vallot (1854-1925), Drouot, Paris, Messrs Lair-Dubreuil and Portier, November 16th, 17th, 18th 1925.

Notes:

1. 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).

2. 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.