~ Chinese Meiji Period Carved Jade Lidded Pot, Ribbed And Fluted With Bud Finial ~
A small circular lidded pot carved from a dense dark grey to near-black hardstone with white blotchy inclusions and lighter mottled patches throughout. The body is carved with dense vertical fluting running from the footring to the rim, and the domed lid with matching radial ribbing radiating from a smooth, raised bud finial. The interior of both bowl and lid is left plain and smoothly finished. A small, neatly turned footring defines the base.
~ Historical Context ~
Ribbed or fluted lidded vessels of this general form were a popular output of Chinese hardstone workshops, particularly during the Qing dynasty, and the radial and vertical ribbing here echoes the petal and frond forms of lotus and chrysanthemum that appear repeatedly in Chinese decorative carving as emblems of purity, longevity, and natural beauty. Small covered pots of this type served as cosmetic, incense, or trinket containers and were made in a wide range of stones, from pale nephrite to dark inkstones and various hardstones, with dark-toned stones carrying their own associations with scholarly restraint.
Condition Report
The piece is intact in the photographs, with general dust and minor surface marks consistent with age and handling.
