Page 164 - Bonhams Chinese Art London May 2013

126 The present lot is a rare example of the superb craftsmanship of the
A large and rare archaistic pale green jade duck jade carver during the 18th century, masterfully combining the favoured
18th century subject of the mandarin duck, symbolising the wish for a happy marriage
The large pale green pebble with small patches of russet inclusions (as they are thought to mate for life) with the archaism represented
boldly carved as a single duck with archaistic and geometric details on in the C-scrolls and leiwen patterns carved on the wings and tail. This
its wing and tail feathers and the feet carefully webbed, grasping in its auspicious message is further reinforced with the wish for longevity
beak a long spray of peony intricately carved with finely-frilled petals and represented by the shou character borne atop the peony blossom.
leaves, wood stand.
14cm (5½in) long (2). See a related pale green jade group of two mandarin ducks, 18th
£60,000 - 80,000 century, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, with similarly carved
HK$710,000 - 940,000 CNY560,000 - 750,000 heads and beaks, collar and wings, illustrated by R.Lefebvre d’Argencé
in Chinese Jades in the Avery Brundage Collection, San Francisco, 1977,
十八世紀 青玉雕仿古紋臥鴨 Catalogue no.LXXI.

Provenance: Bernard Sunley Collection of Important Jade Carvings, Compare a similarly carved white jade archaistic duck, attributed to the
London, no.9/5 Kangxi period, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, Important Chinese Jades
By descent to the present owner from the Personal Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman Part II, 27
November 2007, lot 1563.
來源：Bernard Sunley重要玉器收藏系列，倫敦，編號9/5
由現藏家繼承下來

160 | Bonhams