Jades from the Chinese art collector who was happy to climb every mountain

The Asian Art sale at Adam’s in Dublin on June 29-30 includes a group of Qing hard stone carvings that formed part of the Joseph Vallot (1854-1925) sale at Drouot in 1925.

A number of pieces were acquired at the Vallot sale by Carlos Alfredo Tornquist Altgelt (1885-1953), a member of a prominent Argentinian banking family. They come for sale by descent.

Vallot, a French astronomer, geographer, naturalist and alpinist, constructed an observatory on Mont Blanc (the Refuge Vallot) that even included a ‘salon chinoise’. This was decorated with Vallot’s collection of objects from the Far East. In 1984 it was taken down and reconstructed at the Alpine Museum in Chamonix.

Here are five jade highlights with a Vallot/Altgelt provenance from The Asian Art sale at Adam’s in Dublin on June 29-30

Phoenix rises

This 18th or 19th century white jade phoenix wine pot and cover (pictured top) is estimated at €6000-8000.

It is shaped as a phoenix standing on its feet, the spout carved as the head, the neck with a loose ring, the handle carved as the tail whose feathers described a circle and continue between the feet up to the front part, the sides carved with the wings, the lid topped by a finial shaped as a phoenix, the inner part masterfully hollowed.

Measuring 18cm high x 17cm long x 4.5cm wide, weighing 1050gms, is described as having a ‘sweet and delicate polish’.

You can bid for the 18th or 19th century white jade phoenix wine pot and cover via thesaleroom.com

Sound your horn

A large jade ‘qilin’ archaistic vessel and cover, Rhyton China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century – estimate €3000-5000 at Adam's.

A large jade ‘qilin’ archaistic vessel and cover, Rhyton China, Qing Dynasty, 19^th century, is estimated at €3000-5000.

At 29cm high with stand, 1750gms, it is 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. It features a large opening on the top unveiling a well hollowed inner part.

View the catalogue entry on thesaleroom.com to bid on this jade ‘qilin’ archaistic vessel and cover, Rhyton China, Qing Dynasty.

Yearn to urn

Pair of small jade lidded urns with loose rings, China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century – estimated €1000-2000 at Adam's.

Estimated at €1000-2000, this pair of small jade lidded urns with loose rings, China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century, measure 11.5cm high and weigh 500gms.

The bodies are 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’.

View the catalogue entry on thesaleroom.com to bid for this pair of small jade lidded urns with loose rings.

Burner earner

Large apple-green jadeite jade lidded incense burner – estimate €3000-5000 at Adam's.

This large apple-green jadeite jade lidded incense burner weighs 1600gms and is 24cm high with stand.

With a globular body resting on three lion feet, two handles shaped as chi dragons with loose rings, a lid also with loose rings and topped by a finial shaped as a flower, the inner part is ‘well hollowed’.

Estimate €3000-5000.

Bid for the large apple-green jadeite jade lidded incense burner on thesaleroom.com.

Release the beast

Spinach jade carving of a mythical beast/qilin, Qing dynasty, China, 19th century – estimated €600-800 at Adam's.

Estimated at €600-800, this spinach jade carving of a mythical beast/qilin also dates to the Qing dynasty, China, 19^th century.

It is a flat carving in a deep tone green stone of a recumbent beast amid rocks, pine trees and lingzhi fungus, and offered at auction with a matching wooden stand carved with peonies. The height with the stand is 10.5cm and the weight 163gms.

View the catalogue entry on thesaleroom.com of the spinach jade carving of a mythical beast/qilin.