In the 24th year of Qianlong, he put down the rebellion in the west, solved the problem of the Hui part of Xinjiang, and opened up a channel for Hetian Yu to enter the Central Plains. It was thanks to the contributions of this period that jade making reached an unprecedented prosperity.
Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty Tongyin lady Yushan
The jade work of the Qianlong period is the essence of jade in the Qing Dynasty. These jade objects are graceful and subtle, with soft and rounded lines, showing a coherent and smooth undulating effect. At the same time, in terms of meticulous treatment, the details of these jade objects are very striking and exquisite, showing a graceful and elegant style. The jade objects of the Qianlong period did not have sharp turns in shape and graphics, nor did they have sharp and square line angles, but showed their beauty by expressing a continuous undulating effect. In terms of overall feeling, the jade products of the Qianlong period left a deep impression on people in terms of shape and details, and indeed conveyed a graceful and elegant beauty.
Qing Qianlong white jade elephant
During the Qianlong period, jade had several characteristics.
- The jade quality is good. During the Qianlong period, the jade was made of high-quality Xinjiang and Khotanese jade, whether it was white jade, green jade, green and white jade, jasper, topaz or black jade, which was pure in texture and meticulous and flawless.
- There are many layers. The jade of the Qianlong period is clearly layered, overlapping, exquisite, and neat.
- Meticulous workmanship. The grinding skills of jade in the Qianlong period were very exquisite, meticulously carved, meticulously carved, fine but not chaotic.
- Refined and thin. During the Qianlong period, the jade fetal thin ware was highly valued, and the "thin tire" carving method was carried out, imitating the tributed jade, inlaid with red and sapphire, and embellished into flowers, which was more beautiful.
- The bottom is flat. The jade carving of the Qianlong period attached great importance to the foundation of jade, and each artifact, whether it was an antique Yi vessel, a plate, a bottle, a box, a wearer, a cultural play, an ornament or a jade ground of study utensils, was as smooth as a mirror and as clear as glass.
- Straight lines. The lines directly refer to the carved patterns on the jade, and the lines of the jade in the Qianlong period are all slashed to the end, tightly combined, and there is no broken knife that does not follow.
In addition, the so-called "Qianlong Gong" is not limited to the jade carved by the "manufacturing office" in the Qing Palace, but refers to the jade carving devices in terms of jade quality, ornamentation, carving, modeling and other aspects to reach the level of the Qianlong period.
The antique jade of the Qianlong period mainly refers to the shape of the ancient bronzes, and the bottom of the vessel is engraved with the seal carvings of "Qianlong Antique of the Qing Dynasty" and "Qianlong Antique". However, it is not completely copied from the original bronze ware, but is selected and changed according to the characteristics of the jade material and jade craftsmanship technology, so as to create a new work of art.
Qing Qianlong green jade dragon pattern ear bottle
Therefore, the jade of the Qianlong period not only inherited the shape of ancient vessels, but also used the jade craftsmanship technology to create innovative works of art. Imitation bronze jade ware includes Yi ware, water ware, wine ware, etc., and there are also some innovative types of ware, such as Xun and Pavilion Furnace.
Qing Qianlong blue jade clock pattern bottle