A rare white jade brushwasher18th century
With deep rounded sides rising from a flat base to a lipped rim, the curved sides left plain, the semi-translucent stone of pale white tone with cloudy inclusions and striations. 13.2cm (5 1/4in) diam. 注脚十八世紀 白玉洗

The style and quality of the present lot embodies much of the celebrated 18th century production of jade. The jade stone was admired by the master carver who chose to highlight its quality by retaining plain undecorated sides.

Broad vessels of this type with large flat bases were often used as brushwashers, to clean the brush and to add water to an inked brush for toning. The present lot also has a lip suitable for 'pointing' and controlling the amount of water left in the brush. Its smooth plain surface would have suited the subtle and refined tastes of a scholar.

Compare with a related pale green jade brushwasher, Yongzheng four-character mark and of the period, from the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in the Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum. Jade 10. Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, p.237, no.187.

白玉質，光素無紋，質地厚潤，圓唇，鼓腹，平底，光素無紋，打磨細膩，整體簡潔敦厚而不失靈動線條。

素身器用料往往不菲，體量需大且質地需無瑕，一般只有十八世紀的宮廷造作方能有此條件。此件口沿圓潤，應是方便瀝水舔筆，為筆洗專用的設計。參考北京故宮藏一件清雍正款青玉洗，《故宮博物院藏品大系玉器篇10》，北京，2011年，頁237，編號187。