Page 160 - Bonhams May 12 16 London

133 (inscription)

133 Which may be translated as:
A RARE WHITE AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF A BOY AND
DRUM ‘If damaged how can one come upon the era of sages and worthies?
Inscribed Zigang, 18th century Ascending abundance there will be great joy and increasing harmony.
Finely carved as a smiling boy holding a string of coins clambering Zigang.’
atop a large circular drum as he attempts to avoid a bee gliding past
his right leg, the drum inscribed underneath with seal script calligraphy, The present carving is exceptional for the superb lustrous white jade
wood stand. stone combined with a delightful playful carving of a boy clambering
3.4cm (1 3/8in) wide (2). on top of a drum. The quality is further enhanced by the accomplished
inscription on the underside and Zigang seal, marking this outstanding
£10,000 - 15,000 CNY92,000 - 140,000 carving as worthy of the most famous jade carver.
HK$110,000 - 160,000

十八世紀 白玉帶皮童子擊鼓把件 The depiction of children, and in particular, boys, can be found in
「子岡」金文刻款 various media in Chinese art including painting, porcelain, lacquer
and jade carvings. The boy on the present carving is seen possibly
Provenance: a distinguished English private collection, holding a ruyi shaped string of cash, both auspicious. Combined the
and thence by descent carving symbolises the wish for a son and prosperity. See a related
very pale green jade carving of boys playing with a drum, Qing dynasty,
來源： 顯貴英國私人收藏，並由後人保存迄今 illustrated by Zheng Xinmiao, ed., Compendium of Collections in the
Palace Museum: Jade 9 Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2010, pl.46.
On the underside of the drum the inscription reads:
A related but uninscribed white jade carving of two boys with a drum,
‘擊壞豈逢賢聖世，登豐大有樂昇平。子岡’ 18th century, was sold in these rooms on 8 November 2012, lot 166.

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