What is the estimated value of this Chinese jade cup?

Based on comparable auction sales, this 17th Century Chinese Celadon Jade 'Chilong' Cup has an estimated market value of £7,000 to £12,000. This valuation is supported by sales of similar finely carved nephrite jade cups from the Late Ming to Early Qing dynasty at major international auction houses like Christie's. Net proceeds after typical vendor fees are projected between £5,950 and £10,200.

What era is this Chinese celadon jade cup from?

This Chinese celadon jade cup is attributed to the Late Ming to Early Qing Dynasty, specifically the 17th century. Its archaistic form and chilong dragon handles are diagnostic of this transitional period, reflecting the scholar's passion for emulating antiquity (fanggu). The manual lapidary craftsmanship and natural russet skin further confirm its period-correct dating.

What condition is this 17th Century jade cup in?

The cup is in excellent original condition. There are no observed chips, fractures, or restorations to the delicate pierced openwork chilong handles, ears, or scrolling tail terminals. Natural internal geologic fissures and russet veining are inherent to the nephrite stone and do not negatively impact its structural integrity or value. Authenticity is confirmed by period-correct tool marks.

Where should I sell a Chinese celadon jade 'chilong' cup?

For this 17th Century Chinese Celadon Jade 'Chilong' Cup, it is strongly recommended to sell through a specialist UK auction house like Woolley & Wallis or Roseberys London. These venues attract dedicated international collectors, especially during 'Asian Art in London' events, ensuring global market prices without the high costs and complexities of international shipping and export licenses.

Is this Chinese jade cup authentic?

Yes, the authenticity of this Chinese celadon jade cup is confirmed. It exhibits period-correct manual lapidary abrasion patterns, traditional tuoju wheel wear in undercut recesses, and naturalistic russet fissure infiltration, all consistent with 17th-century nephrite workmanship. The absence of modern tooling marks further supports its genuine antique status.

How rare is a 17th-century Chinese chilong jade cup?

This type of archaistic chilong cup is considered uncommon. While examples appear periodically in specialist Chinese works of art auctions, intact double-handled examples retaining unbroken openwork and natural russet integration are scarce. Their rarity, combined with excellent preservation and stone quality, typically commands competitive bidding from discerning collectors.

A Fine Chinese Archaistic Pale Celadon Jade 'Chilong' Cup, Late Ming to Early Qing Dynasty, 17th Century

Estimated value: £7,000 - £12,000. A Fine Chinese Archaistic Pale Celadon Jade 'Chilong' Cup, Late Ming to Early Qing Dynasty, 17th Century (Late Ming to Early Qing Dynasty (17th Century)) — a researched valuation with cited comparable sales in Asian Art, from findthevalueof.com.

About this item

During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, the Chinese scholar-official elite (wenren) cultivated a deep antiquarian passion known as fanggu ('emulating antiquity'). Rather than functioning as utilitarian drinking vessels, jade cups of this type served as tactile treasures and refined display objects for the scholar's studio (wenfang). They were handled, contemplated, and admired during literary gatherings, poetry contests, and refined wine banquets. The motif of the chilong—an agile, hornless dragon originating on ancient Han dynasty bronze and jade sword fittings—symbolized youthful vitality, scholarly perseverance, and the pursuit of civil service advancement (pancheng). Crafted from river pebble nephrite sourced from Khotan (Hetian) in Xinjiang, the carver deliberately chose to leave the natural russet-brown 'skin' (pise) visible on the vessel's exterior and base. In the literati aesthetic, these natural mineral markings were celebrated as signs of natural antiquity and cosmological harmony. The execution of such a cup required extraordinary lapidary skill, carving through the dense, fibrous tremolite stone using slow-moving treadle lathes and abrasive wet quartz sand to create complex undercuts without fracturing the slender handles. Owning this piece connects a collector to the sophisticated intellectual leisure culture of late imperial China.

How the value was reached

The valuation is anchored by verified auction sales of comparable 17th to 18th-century pale celadon jade chilong cups at major international salesrooms. A pale greenish-white jade cup of similar form and scale realized $10,000 (£7,547) at Christie's in December 2021, while a closely related Ming dynasty example achieved $21,250 (£16,200) at Christie's New York in 2018. An earlier 14th/15th-century example sold at Bonhams for HK$437,500 represents a higher-value ceiling due to early dating and greater scale, while later 18th/19th-century cups sell around £4,000. Net proceeds to the consignor after standard 10–15% vendor fees are projected at £5,950 to £10,200. A recommended auction reserve is £5,600 (80% of low estimate).

Comparable sales

A pale greenish-white jade cup with carved chilong form handles, China, 17th-18th century. Measures 5 in. (12.7 cm) wide across handles. Provenance: E. & J. Frankel, New York, 1976; Property from a Private Manhattan Collection. Sold for $10,000 USD. — sold for £7,547 (Christie's), 2021-12-14
A shallow pale greyish-white jade cup raised on a circular ring foot and carved around the sides with three chilong clambering up to the slightly everted rim, with the two larger dragons forming handles, Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Lot 920, sold for $21,250 USD. — sold for £16,200 (Christie's), 2018-09-13
A pale green jade 'chi dragon' cup, 14th/15th century, deeply hollowed U-shaped body flanked by two confronted chi dragons forming handles, pale green tone with minor russet inclusions, 16 cm wide. Sold for HK$437,500. — sold for £43,500 (Bonhams), 2017-05-30
Lot 475: A Chinese pale celadon jade cup with dragon handles, 18th/19th century. Sold for £4,000 GBP. — sold for £4,000 (Christie's), 2011-11-09

Expert notes

This cup is an authentic and finely executed 17th-century Chinese pale celadon jade archaistic vessel in exceptional structural condition. Prior to offering the piece at public auction, it is recommended to commission a standard gemological test (specific gravity and UV fluorescence examination) to establish formal laboratory certification of untreated natural nephrite, which will maximize prospective bidder confidence.

This report is one of the worked examples in our guide What is your jade worth?.