A ROCK CRYSTAL 'MYTHICAL BIRD' VASE AND COVER 18th/19th century

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN 紳士藏品
A ROCK CRYSTAL 'MYTHICAL BIRD' VASE AND COVER
18th/19th century
Well carved as a bird supporting a vase with a cover surmounted by a ruyi-shaped knop, the bird standing in profile with head raised, ornamented with swirling feathers extending across the chest, wings and tail of the bird to the side walls of the vase, achieved through a high relief technique.
11.2cm (4 3/8in) long. (2).
十八/十九世紀 水晶雕天雞尊

The shape of this rock crystal vase refers to the mythical bird, known as 'heavenly cockerel' tianji (天雞) in ancient legends. According to Tales of Strange Matters (述異記) compiled during the Southern dynasties (420-589), there was a colossal tree of which the branches spanned three thousand miles. Perched upon it, the heavenly cockerel's crows were synchronised with the first rays of the sun, casting a radiant illumination, symbolising the potent force committed to ensuring tranquillity and harmony.

In the Qing dynasty, the 'heavenly cockerel' design became widely popular, with an abundance of variations crafted from various materials. See a similar rock crystal 'heavenly cockerel' vase and cover, Qing dynasty, in the Qing Court Collection, in the Palace Museum Beijing, (acc no. 故00102477). Another crystal 'duck' vase, Qing dynasty, in the Qing Court Collection, is also illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Small Refined Articles of the Study, Shenzhen, 2009, p.194, no.181. See also a related green jade vase seated on the back of a heaven cockerel, late Qing dynasty, illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade, vol.10, Beijing, 2011, p.84, pl.55.

Compare with a related carved rock crystal vase and cover, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 9 October 2019, lot 112.