Page 291 - Christies IMportant Chinese Art Sept 26 2020 NYC

THE PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR, LOUISIANA
1778
A WHITE JADE 'DOUBLE-LOZENGE' WASHER
18TH-19TH CENTURY
The washer is carved as two intersecting lozenges each raised on a small foot of
conforming shape, and flanked on each side by two boys holding stems of lingzhi. The
stone of pale greenish-white color has some opaque white inclusions.
6√ in. (17.5 cm.) wide
$30,000-50,000

The imagery on the present washer forms a combination of auspicious wishes.
The double lozenge (fangsheng) is one of the Eight Treasures (babao) and one of
the Hundred Treasures (baibao). This auspicious emblem forms a pun for victory,
and is also considered to have demon-dispelling capabilities. The boys supporting
the vessel symbolize a wish for many sons, and the lingzhi held in their hands is
emblematic of longevity.

A similar white-jade double-lozenge washer with boy supporters, but with bird-head
handles with rings, is in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, gift of Heber
Bishop, 1902, and is illustrated in D. Leidy, W. Siu and J. Watt, Chinese Decorative
Arts, New York, 1997, p. 24.

清十八/十九世紀 白玉雕方勝形筆洗