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Green Jade Paperweight with Water Dropper, 19th Century

About the Item

This 19th Century green jade paperweight with a water dropper, 碧玉元宝水盂镇纸, features a yuanbao 元宝 shaped water dropper at the center, with rectangular spiral 回纹 patterns decorating the edges above the yuanbao 元宝. Two servants are kneeling on the ground, bowing, facing away from the center of the water basin. The servants have Ming Dynasty-style hair buns and C-shaped cloud-like ears. The style of the ears can be seen in the court maidens’ murals from the Ming Dynasty at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The water dropper, also known as a water server (水丞), is primarily used to add water to the inkstone when grinding ink. It is usually designed to be small and delicate, as only a small amount of water is needed for grinding ink. There is a long rectangular-shaped base at the bottom with a flat surface that serves as a paperweight. Ming dynasty Paper weight collection at Palace Museum Taipei attached ( last image). Dimensions & Weight 11.9 x 2.0 x 3.2 cm 107.8 grams Provenance — purchased from an American jade collector in 2018 Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to the condition and must understand that any statement made by Luxury Jewelry & Jade Art is merely a subjective opinion.
  • Creator:
  • Weight:
    107.8 g
  • Dimensions:
    Width: 4.69 in (119 mm)Depth: 0.79 in (20 mm)Length: 1.26 in (32 mm)
  • Style:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Qing Dynasty
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    San Diego, CA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU4097222935992

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