A WHITE JADE POMANDER AND MATCHING WOOD STAND, QIANLONG China, 1736-1795. The two domed halves modeled in the form of a pouch and intricately carved in openwork with a central shou character amid lotus blossoms and lingzhi, attached to an old silk tassel with two matching jadeite beads.

Provenance: Swiss trade.
Condition: The jade in very good condition with minor wear and few tiny nibbles. The wood stand with a minor old repair near the top but otherwise in very good condition and with a superb, naturally grown patina overall.

Weight: 23.7 g (the pomander with tassels and beads) and 659 g (the wood stand)
Dimensions: Length 5.3 cm (the pomander) and 44.5 cm (the stand)

With a finely carved hardwood stand, possibly huanghuali, the wood of a highly attractive grain and color, dating from the Qing dynasty. (2)

As early as the Tang dynasty, small pouches holding various hunting paraphernalia were hung from the belts of hunters. The Manchus also used small pouches for similar purposes, but after settling in China and pursuing a more leisurely life, the pouches became smaller and were used to hold aromatic herbs. This jade 'aromatic pouch' is based on contemporary Qing dynasty silk examples. For further discussion of this form, and an illustration of a number of embroidered silk, as well as deer skin examples, dating from the Qing period, see the exhibition catalog, G. Wong and E.K. Goh (eds.), Imperial Life in the Qing Dynasty - Treasures from the Shenyang Palace Museum, China, The Empress Place Museum, Singapore, 1989, pp. 98-9.

Literature comparison: For a similar pomander, dated to the Qianlong period, see Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1975, cat. no. 465. A related pouch-shaped jade pomander with a Qianlong mark and of the period in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is illustrated in the Catalogue of the Exhibition of Ch'ing Dynasty Costume Accessories, Taipei, 1986, p. 249, no. 232.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 23 March 2011, lot 607
Price: USD 17,500 or approx. EUR 22,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A small white jade pomander, Qing dynasty, 18^th century
Expert remark: Compare the related stylized characters and lotus blossoms. Note the circular form and similar size (5.1 cm)

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby's London
Price: GBP 10,200 or approx. EUR 19,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A white jade pomander, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period
Expert remark: Compare the related pouch shape, openwork, and central shou character. Note the size (6.9 cm).



乾隆白玉壽字紋香薰
中國，1736-1795年。兩瓣白玉鏤空雕刻荷花、靈芝與壽字紋，飾以流蘇，配翡翠珠。

來源：瑞士古玩交易。
品相：玉石成色極好，有輕微磨損和少量磕損。木架在頂部附近進行了輕微的小修，其他方面狀況非常好，整體具有極好的自然包漿。

重量：香薰23.7 克（含流蘇和翡翠珠），木架 659 克
尺寸：香薰長 5.3 厘米，木架 44.5 厘米

有一個雕刻精美的硬木支架，可能是黃花梨，木材的紋理和顏色非常美麗，應可追溯到清朝。(2)

早在唐代，獵手的腰帶上就掛著裝有各種狩獵用具的小袋子。 滿族人也將小袋子用於類似目的，但因爲生活愈加安穩悠閒之後，袋子變得更小，主要用於盛放香草。此玉“香囊” 從當時絲綢荷包為基礎。有關這種形式的進一步討論，以及清代許多刺繡絲綢和鹿皮示例的插圖，請參閱展覽目錄，G. Wong 和 E.K. Goh (eds.)，Imperial Life in the Qing Dynasty - Treasures from the Shenyang Palace Museum，China，The Empress Place Museum，新加坡，1989年，第98-9頁。

文獻比較：一件相似的乾隆時期香薰，見《Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages》，維多利亞和亞伯特博物館，倫敦，1975年，圖錄編號465。一件相近的乾隆款及年代袋狀玉香薰，收藏於台北故宮博物館， 見《清代服飾展覽圖錄》，台北，1986年，頁249，編號232。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2011年3月23日，lot 607
價格：USD 17,500（相當於今日EUR 22,500）
描述：十八世紀清代小型白玉香薰
專家評論：比較相近的款識、蓮花瓣。請注意圓形外型和相似的尺寸(5.1厘米) 。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦蘇富比
價格：GBP 10,200（相當於今日EUR 19,500）
描述：清乾隆白玉香薰
專家評論：比較相近的袋狀、鏤空雕刻和中央的壽紋。請注意尺寸 (6.9厘米)。