0086 Newspapers reported in early 1861 that, during the sack of the ‘Summer Palace’, Lord Elgin had selected for Queen Victoria ‘a baton of command for the Emperor of China, in green jade of great value, and mounted with gold.’ (See, for example: 4 January 1861, Dundee, Perth, and Cupar Advertiser, p. 4.)
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0026 Jade objects appeared at a Christie, Manson and Woods auction in 1861:
‘MESSRS. CHRISTIE, MANSON, and WOODS respectfully give notice that they will SELL, by AUCTION ... several splendid ancient enamels, taken by an officer from the Summer Palace at Pekin, and a magnificent old porcelain bottle; a very fine Indian silver centrepiece; the Emperor’s great seal of State, a beautiful work, carved in green jade; splendid embroidered Chinese court dresses, the covering of the Imperial throne; slabs of jade engraved with characters, part of the imperial archives, and other highly interesting and beautiful specimens of Chinese art, from the Summer Palace at Pekin.’ (1 July 1861, ‘Sales by Auction’, The Morning Post, p. 8.)
中文:
1861 年 Christie’s 一则拍卖广告：「Christie, Manson, 和 Woods 先生们 敬告 : 他们将 拍卖 几个 被 一名 军官 从 北京 圆明园 带 走 的 华美 古珐, 琅 器 件 和 一个 精美古 瓷瓶；一个 很 精 的 来自 印度的 银色 餐桌 装饰物 一方 皇帝的 印玺, 一 件 美丽 的 翡翠 雕刻 艺术品； 刺绣 精美 的中国皇帝的龙袍， 皇帝宝座 的 坐垫; 几个 刻有中国文字 的 玉板 从帝王档案, 和 另外 出自 北京 圆明园 很有意思 以及 精美 的 中国 艺术品。」(一八六一年七月一日，「拍卖会」，晨报, 第八页。)
张小蕾和凯特 · 希尔（Kate Hill）
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0029 An extract from M. Alibert’s account of his minerological discoveries in Siberia was published in Illustrations and reprinted in the Morning Post in 1863. This included references to jades purportedly from the Yuanmingyuan:
‘Until now this mineral had only been found at a few places in the Chinese empire, and from its high price and great rarity the official sceptre of the sovereigns of the Celestial Empire was made of it. It will be remembered that one of the most remarkable curiosities derived from the plunder in the Summer Palace at Pekin was a jade sceptre. A block of this rare mineral, weighing 1.200lb., and of exceptional purity, has just been obtained. The Kensington Museum at London also possesses a valuable block of this mineral.” (2 October 1863, ‘Minerological Discoveries’, Morning Post, p. 7.)
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0016 In January 1864, HM 12th Regiment (2nd Bat.) held an industrial exhibition at the Rotundo in Dublin. Surgeon Birnie displayed his Chinese collection, which included ‘8 fur and embroidered dresses; &c., taken at the capture of the Emperor of China’s Summer Palace, near Pekin, October, 1860’; and ‘4 Jade Stone figures, from the Summer Palace’. (Anonymous, Catalogue of the Industrial Exhibition H.M. Regiment (2nd Battn.) Held at the Rotundo, Dublin 12th January 1864, p. 7.)
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0027 The following 41 items were included in the catalogue of Capitaine Negroni’s collection of spoils from the Yuanmingyuan, exhibited at the Crystal Palace in 1865:
p. 14
1. Jewel stand used by the Empress of China. This is one of the most beautiful specimens of Oriental workmanship. It is in splendid greenish jade, inlaid with rubies, pink coral, and lapis lazulae. The rings in the side are cut out of the solid stone, and the ornamental carvings represent the sacred bats, emblems of long life and happiness. This splendid chef d’oeuvre much surpasses that in the Mineralogical Museum at Paris, which, in the catalogue of 1791, was valued at 72,000 francs.
2. The celebrated Imperial Junk, exquisitely carved in white jade. The poise of the rowers, the table covered with flowers and fruit, and the miniature birds at the side, proclaim the poetic mind of the artist. Monsieur Terret, one of the first lapidaries of Paris, estimates the mere labour in producing this work at 30,000 francs.
3. A Goat with her Kids. This is very natural in the grouping, the stone so perfectly cloudless that is quite unique.
4. A beautiful cup, representing the leaf and flower of the water lily; the jade is slightly tinted with green, which increases the beauty of the imitation.
5. A charming ewer in white jade, ornamented with winged dragons (the symbols of the honor of the Empresses).
6. A green jade ewer mounted on three feet; it has the dragons with five claws–emblems of the majesty of the Emperors–and a beautiful band of Chinese characters engraved upon it.
p. 15
7. A large vase, with cover in pure white jade, very elaborately carved in relief, and hollowed with surprising regularity. The imperial dragons are in the centre, and round the top and bottom is what has hitherto been known as Greek ornamentation, but which proves to be the old Ming signet.
8. A large hand of the Goddess Fo-ki, or Hand of Justice; or, otherwise, the rhubarb root deified. It is enclosed in acanthus leaves, and must have cost the artist an infinity of labour. It weighs over ten pounds.
9. A very pretty bonbonnière, which belonged to the Empress. It is in white jade of exceptional purity; on the cover are doves, the emblems of affection, perched upon delicately carved branches.
10. A large, well executed cameo, representing landscapes and domestic scenes in China on one side, and on the other rocks, trees, and deer: Extreme skill is displayed in making the two different designs harmonise, so that the hollow parts on the one side should not interfere with those on the other.
11. A cameo, on the back of which is an inscription to the effect that the penalty of death awaited any person who on finding this treasure does not return it to the Emperor. The subject is a view of the Summer Palace, admirably executed. The pavilion on the right was the residence of the Empress.
12. A perfume burner, quite plain, but of beautiful form and material.
13. The Emperor’s mirror, in a beautifully engraved frame of jade. It is set in gold, and surmounted by a pierced ornament, and bears the signet of the great Ming dynasty. The material used to produce the reflection is a vitreous stone called obsidienne, which bears a very high polish.
14. A jewel stand, in fine white jade, ornamented with a wreath of chrysanthemums, very beautifully executed. One end is thrown into the interior so carelessly that it has the appearance of being detached.
15. A small cup in form of a lotus flower. The inscription in the centre is very antique.
16. A Chinese priest or bouze.
17. A woman praying.
p. 16
18. The Emperor of China in war costume. This piece dates several centuries before Christ.
19. A Thibet goat, with horns differing in colour to the rest of the animal.
20. A vase in antique grey jade, with fantastic dragons forming the handles. The inscription indicates that it remained 800 years in the coffin of the Emperor Chi-en Fan, and was then removed with appropriate ceremonies.
21. A trinket box in dark green jade, on which are carved flowers and butterflies beautifully arranged and executed.
22. A square plate in green jade, used as a talisman. On one side is engraved the imperial dragons, with their accessories; on the other is an inscription in Chinese characters, which signifies that the plate was presented to the imperial poet, Kien-long, before he ascended the throne. One seal is that of the prince; the other that of the artist. All the figures and characters are gilded.
23. A screen handle, of beautiful workmanship; the design is very elaborate, the principal figure being the imperial dragon.
24. A large square coffer, on four cylindrical feet. The design is in the earliest style of Chinese art; the antiquity, therefore, of this piece is something marvellous.
25. A Chinese divinity, in grey jade. This, also, is very old.
26. The goddess Fo. The rudeness of the workmanship, and the appearance of the jade, which is beginning to lose colour from extreme age, proves that this specimen belongs to the primitive days of the Chinese empire.
27. A basin, in old jade, the base of which is composed of antique ornaments.
28. A platinum mirror, with jade handle, the top of which is green, and represents butterflies; the rest is plain and white. A sandal wood ornament is attached to it by a silk cord and tassel.
29. An oval bonbonnière, with leaves and a Chinese inscription.
30. A dragon, with an eagle behind him, and small dragon at the side; this undoubtedly has some allegorical meaning.
p. 17
31. One of the Emperor’s talismen, in beautiful white jade; the design being a centre dragon, round which four smaller ones are entwined, forming a graceful knot. This is the symbol of union between intelligence and power.
32. A plain round bonbonnière, cut from a beautiful unclouded stone.
33. A small Tartar dog, of a species called “dogs of the palace;” one or two specimens of these animals have been brought to Europe, and are now in Paris, very much valued by the owners.
34. One of the Emperor’s decorations, on which is inscribed the symbols of happiness; one side in Chinese, on the other in Mantchou characters.
35. A square seal, surmounted by a beautiful dragon, which is much lighter in colour than the base, and forms a pleasing contrast to it; the inscription is the old Mantchou character.
36. A grand ceremonial ornament, belonging to the Emperor, richly covered with curious devices.
37. Several rings and charms, some plain, others finely engraved.
38. A pair of hair pins, in pure white jade.
39. A pair of hair pins, inlaid with precious stones.
40. A pair of finger ornaments, symbols of the power of the Empresses. The size of these will give an idea of the possible smallness of ladies’ fingers; the nail is expected to extend to the end of the ornament, the holes being pierced in order to display the finger.
41. A pair of ear-rings worn by the Empress.
(See Catalogue of Captain de Negroni's Collection of Porcelain, Jade, Jewels, Silks, Furs, Stones, &c., from Yuen-Min-Yuen, (The Summer Palace) Pekin, London: McCorquodale & Co. 1865, pp. 14–17.) The collection was sold through Messrs. Foster in June 1866. (16 June 1866, Birmingham Gazette, p. 4.)
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0051 In autumn 1866, the Yorkshire Gazette reported that a meeting of the Richmond and North Riding Naturalist’s Field Club ‘was one of very great interest, on account of Major Van Straubenzie having placed at the disposal of the president for the evening the gems taken by himself in 1860 from the Emperor of China’s summer palace near Pekin. The collection is of wondrous beauty as well as of great value. Perhaps the most attractive of the group is a Jade stone sceptre, used by the mandarins to place before their eyes when in the presence of the Emperor, and a white Jade stone vase, of workmanship unequaled out of the Celestial Empire. The greatest delight at the sight of each articles [sic] was expressed by the members, and a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Major Straubenzie for his considerable liberality.’ (17 November 1866, Yorkshire Gazette, p. 9)
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0147 In a review of the Cardiff Exhibition in 1870, a local paper reported: ‘Mr. Luard sends a carved jade bottle, and Mr. Jones a carved jade brought from the Summer Palace at Pekin.’ (27 August 1870, Cardiff Times, p. 7.) 26 February 2016.
中文:
0147 一份 地 方报纸 报道了 1870 年 Cardiff (加的夫) 的 一个 画展 Luard 先生 捐献 了 一个玉雕 瓶 以及 Jones 先生 捐献 了 一个 来自北京圆明园的玉。(一八七零 年 八月 二 十七 日, Cardiff Times, 第七页。)
张小蕾和凯特 · 希尔（Kate Hill）
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0157 A review of the Aldershot Soldiers’ Industrial Exhibition, mounted in 1873, noted:
‘The Royal Scots were the regiment to whom was entrusted the task of burning the Summer Palace of Pekin, and in their section are some beautiful specimens of enamel vases, jade, ivory filagree work, &c., found there by them, and constituting part of the “loot” sold by auction.’ (9 July 1873, London Daily News, p. 3.) [0157 also listed under Enamels and Ivory.] 26 February 2016.
中文：
一个 关于 1873 年奥尔德，肖特 军人 工艺 展览 的 报纸 評論。 「这个皇家 苏格兰 军团 曾参与 火烧 圆明园 在他们的 展览 中 有一些 来自北京圆明园 珍 宝。有 珐琅 花瓶, 玉雕,镂空象牙,诸如此类。 这些 组成 一部分 战利品被拍卖。」 (一八七三 年七月九 日, 伦敦 日报,第 三 页。)
张小蕾和凯特 · 希尔（Kate Hill）
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0184 When ‘An Exhibition of Works of Art, Needlework, Paintings, Drawings, etc., etc. ’ took place at Shire Hall, Hertford, in 1880, Mr. Charles Butler of Warren Wood displayed a ‘Jade engraved cup, from Summer Palace’ and Mrs. Morris, Much Hadham, loaned ‘a yellow satin embroidered dress of the Empress of China, taken at the Summer Palace... ’ (9 October 1880, Hertford Mercury and Reformer, p. 3.) [0184 also listed under textiles.] 26 February 2016.
中文:
1880年 在 一个「刺绣 与 绘画 艺术 展 上」。Warren Wood 的 Charles Butler 先生 展 出 一个 「来自 北京 圆明园 的 玉 雕 杯子」 。还有 Much Hadham 的 Morris 夫人展 出:「一个出自北京圆明园的中国 皇后 黄 缎 锦朝服」。 (一八八零 年十月九日, Hertford Mercury and Reformer, 第九页。)
张小蕾和凯特 · 希尔（Kate Hill）
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0191 In 1844 Messrs. Phillips, Son, & Neale sold for the executors of the Ven. Archdeacon Creyke the library and furnishings of Bolton Percy, Yorkshire: ‘several pieces of Oriental CHINA and JADE, taken from the Summer Palace at Pekin’. (26 January 1884, Yorkshire Gazette, p. 1.) [0191 also listed under ceramics.] 26 February 2016.
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0202 A loan exhibition of jades took place at the Museum of Science and Art, Edinburgh, in 1886; and it was reported that ‘The Chinese part of the collection was mostly obtained by the French when the summer palace at Pekin was looted in 1860.’ (22 May 1886, Edinburgh Evening News, p. 3.) A review in the Glasgow Herald elaborated:
‘In the first case there are two ornaments of the apple green jade—the one a bowl and cover, and the other a mandarin buckle. Each of these are valued at several hundred pounds, and both were taken from the Summer Palace, Pekin, in 1860, by the French, and now belong, like a number of other ornaments in the collection, to Sir Robert Jardine, of Castlemilk, M.P. There is a beautiful specimen of pure white jade in this case, also taken from the Summer Palace’. (24 May 1886, Glasgow Herald, p. 6.) The Herald later reported that other collectors had added further to the display: ‘Mrs. Smythe lends a necklace, cross, brooch, and earrings, tastefully made up in France of pale green translucent jade beads, taken, like so many of the finest objects in this collection, by French soldiers in 1860 from the Summer Palace at Pekin.’ (19 June 1886, Glasgow Herald, p. 6.) 26 February 2016.
中文:
1886 年 爱丁堡科学与艺 术 博物馆 举行了一个玉器借展。一 份 报纸 报 道了:「这个 展览 的 大部分 中国展品是 法军 1860 年 从圆明园掠夺的」。格拉斯哥 先驱 报报 道了: 「第一个展柜有两个苹果绿玉装饰品。其中之一是 碗 和 盖子，另一种是 满族 皮带扣。 每一个值几百 镑。 这 两个玉器 在 1860 年 从 北京 圆明园 被 带到了 法国，并且 现在 属于 议会成员 Castlemilk 的 Robert Jardine 先生。 如 典藏 中 其他 装饰，这个展柜 还 有一个 出自 圆明园 的 美丽纯白色的玉 器。」 (一八八六年 五月 二十四日， Glasgow Herald，第六页。)
先驱报后来报告说,其他收藏家借出更多的 藏品: 「Smythe 夫人 出借 一 条 项链, 一个十字架, 一个 胸针, 以及 一 对 耳环 这些 是在 法国 由 透光 浅绿色 玉 珠子制作的。这些玉珠子也是被法国 士兵 在1860年 取自北京 圆明园。 正如这个展览中的许多珍品一样。」(一八八六 六月 十九日， 格拉斯哥 先驱，第六页。
张小蕾和凯特 · 希尔（Kate Hill）
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0207 A long essay on jade titled ‘A Great Green Stone’ appeared in 1887, in which it was suggested that:
‘When our soldiers looted the Summer Palace at Pekin they found some beautiful ornaments of jade, on which a lifetime of patient labour had been expended; and many of those same ornaments are now in England, mostly in private collections.’ (30 May 1887, Liverpool Mercury, p. 5.) 26 February 2016.
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0230 The following notice concerning the Barbedienne collection in Paris appeared in 1893:
‘ART SALE IN PARIS—The total proceeds of the four days’ of sale of the Barbedienne collection of objects d’art from China and Japan at Durand Ruel’s gallery have amounted to 88,725 francs. Most of these works of art have gone to America, particularly the jades, which M. Barbedienne acquired at small cost after the taking of the Summer Palace at Pekin by French troops in 1870. [editor: presumably the writer meant 1860.] The highest price, realised for a milky jade in the form of a spherical goblet, decorated in relief with circular medallion composed of flowers, was 7000 francs (£280).’ (13 June 1892, Morning Post, p. 5.) 26 February 2016.
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0232 Messrs. Christie, Manson, and Woods offered for sale in the spring of 1892:
‘A Choice COLLECTION of CHINESE and JAPANESE WORKS of ART, the property of a Gentleman, formed during a residence of four years in China, comprising numerous fine Chinese carvings in jade, many of which were in the Summer Palace at Pekin...’ (25 April 1892, Morning Post, p. 8.) 26 February 2016.
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0240 On 12 July 1894, Christie, Manson, and Woods held a sale of property from the collection of Mr. W.J. Goode, Hampstead. Among the collection were:
‘a flat-shaped white jade vase and cover, carved with Ho-Ho birds, dragons, &c., in low relief, from the Summer Palace, 96gs; a vase of white jade, formed as a large magnolia flower, with foliage and a quail in relief, from the Summer Palace, 140gs.; a bowl, of rare mottled green jade, with four handles carved as butterflies, the inside carved with a circular emblem, from the Summer Palace, £273 ... a two-handled old Chinese porcelain pear-shaped case, enamelled with arabesque flowers in colours on imperial yellow ground, from the Summer Palace, 105gs.; a rare old Chinese porcelain vase, enamelled with butterflies, foliage, and colours on red trellis ground, from the Summer Palace, 215gs. (‘Art Sale’, 13 July 1894, Morning Post, p. 7.) [0240 also listed under ceramics.] 26 February 2016.
中文:
1894 年 7月 12日 克里斯蒂 拍卖了住在 Hampstead 的 W. J. Goode 先生 的 资产。 其中 收藏品 有：「一 个 来自 圆明园 的 扁 圆 形 白玉 花瓶 和 盖， 浅浮 雕 上 刻 有 凤凰，龙，诸如此类，价值 九 十 六 几尼. 浅浮 雕 上 刻 有 凤凰，龙，诸如此类，价值 九 十 六 几尼. 一 个 来自 圆明园 的 白 玉 花瓶， 浅 浮雕 上 刻 有 大 玉 兰 花， 叶子 和 鹌鹑 价值 一 百四 十 几尼。 一 个 来自 圆明园 的 名贵 斑驳 翡 翠 碗， 浅浮雕 上刻 有 大 玉 兰 花 叶子 和 鹌鹑 有 四 个 雕刻 有 蝴蝶 的 把 手 ， 里面 雕 刻 有 团 寿 字 纹 ， 价值 二百七十三 英镑 。一 个 来自 圆明园 的 古 中国 皇家 梨形 黄 地 花瓶， 带有 两个 把手 ，釉 上 绘有彩 色 花 卉 价 值 一百 零 五 几尼。 一 个 来自 圆明园 的 名贵 古 中国 瓷器 花瓶, 彩釉 上绘 有 蝴蝶、叶子和 倍数 个 颜色 上 红 棚架格子 地 ， 价值 两 百 一 十 五 几尼。」(一八九四年 七月十三，晨报，第七页。）
张小蕾和凯特 · 希尔（Kate Hill）
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All material on this page, unless otherwise credited, was produced by Kate Hill, who asserts her authorship of the work. © Kate Hill, Yuanmingyuan Artefact Index, 2016.