Page 36 - Reginald and Lena Palmer Collection EXHIBITION, Bonhams London Oct 25 to November 2 2021

7
A LARGE SPINACH-GREEN JADE ‘MOUNTAIN’ BOULDER
Qianlong
24.7cm (9 3/4in) wide.

清乾隆 碧玉雕行旅圖山子

Provenance:
Spink & Son Ltd., London
R.H.R Palmer (1898-1970), acquired from the above in about 1926,
Collection no.14

Published and Exhibited:
The Oriental Ceramic Society, Chinese Jades: Illustrated Catalogue,
London, 1948, no.138
The Arts Council of Great Britain and The Oriental Ceramic Society,
Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages, London, 1975, no.450 (illustrated)

來源：
倫敦古董商Spink & Son Ltd.
R.H.R Palmer（1898-1970）於約1926年購自上者，典藏編號14

展覽著錄：
倫敦東方陶瓷學會，《Chinese Jades: Illustrated Catalogue》，
倫敦，1948年，編號138
英國藝術委員會與倫敦東方陶瓷學會，《Chinese Jade Throughout
the Ages》，倫敦，1975年，編號450

Deftly carved, this boulder is notable for its impressive size, following
the basic contours of the larger boulder from which it was originally
extracted. Also remarkable is the superb quality of the spinach-green
jade as well as the three-dimensional use of the stone’s surface and
multi-layered carving. The large jade stone was sourced from the areas
of Khotan and Yarkand, which became an available source of jade
after the Qing conquest of the north-western territories in the mid-18th
century, allowing superior quality and larger jade stones to be sent to
the jade workshops.

The impressive boulder is carved on one side with six equestrian
figures riding on a twisting path amidst pine and wutong trees towards
a walled pavilion nestled high in the mountains, with one of the riders
carrying a vase with a coral branch. The reverse is carved with two more
equestrian figures, one carrying a halberd, following a figure on foot
carrying a flag through a mountainous landscape below a precipice.

The Qianlong Emperor instructed that jade mountains and carved The precision of the carver’s workmanship, creating particularly crisp
panels should carry the spirit of paintings by famous past masters. high-relief carving in some areas, and the imaginative interpretation
It is recorded that a number of classical paintings from the Emperor’s from the outset of an asymmetric shape, is such that one can easy
own collection were ordered to be reproduced in jade, such as the imagine this boulder adorning a desk in one of the Imperial palaces.
well-known painting entitled ‘Travellers in the Mountain’ by Guan Tong It would foster contemplative introspection, with the beholder happily
of the Five Dynasties (907-960 AD). The popularity of such spinach- losing himself in the twists and turns of the rustic rocky pathway and
green jade boulders carved with mountainous scenes is attested by the groves of old gnarled pine.
a number of related examples illustrated in Jasper Wares of Qing
Dynasty Collected by the Palace Museum and Mansi, Beijing, 2014, Coral is one of the ‘Eight Treasures’ and symbolises longevity as well
nos.107-112. See also another example carved with a hunting scene, as official promotion. Its red colour is associated with good fortune and
Qing dynasty, illustrated by M.Knight, He Li and T.Tse Batholomew, happiness. Hence, the equestrian figure seen in this boulder carrying
Later Chinese Jades: Ming Dynasty to Early Twentieth Century from a vase bearing a coral branch, symbolises the bearing of these
the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, San Francisco, 2007, auspicious wishes. Thus, the viewer of this boulder would have wished
no.352; and another spinach green jade boulder, 18th century, in the for promotion and perhaps either for restful periods between official
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, illustrated by H.R.Bishop, appointments or retirement from worldly concerns.
The Heber R. Bishop Collection of Jade and other Hard Stones.
Handbook no.10, New York, 1909, p.73.