Page 66 - Important Chiense Ceramics and Works of Art, Christie's.pdf

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THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
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A FINE WHITE JADE ‘BOYS’ GROUP EXHIBITED
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY Christie’s New York, 13-26 March 2001
The boulder is well carved in the round with a larger central Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, August 2003 - December 2004
figure, modelled with a cheerful expression on his round face,
LITERATURE
holding a stalk of millet and wearing a beribboned coin inscribed R. Kleiner, Chinese Jades from the Collection of Alan and Simone
Tianxia taiping, ‘Peace under Heaven’, flanked on each side by a Hartman, Hong Kong, 1996, pl. 180
smaller boy, one carrying a lantern and the other with a ruyi and a
The depiction of children, and in particular boys, can be found
large artemisia leaf curling to the underside and front of the group.
The creamy-white stone has areas of russet inclusions. in various media in Chinese art including painting, porcelains,
lacquer and jade carvings. They symbolise a wish for many
4 ¿ in. (10.4 cm.) high, box
children, but more significantly, many sons. The stalk of
HK$3,000,000-5,000,000 US$390,000-640,000 millet in the present carving plays on the pun for He, meaning
‘harmony’, and this theme is reinforced by the inscription on
PROVENANCE the cash-coin, which itself represents wealth. In total, the
Sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 22 May 1985, lot 310 motifs here encompass many auspicious themes, making the
The Alan and Simone Hartman Collection, Part I, sold at Christie’s piece a highly appropriate wedding or birthday gift.
Hong Kong, 28 November 2006, lot 1414
Sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3635

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