Page 191 - Bonhams Chinese Art London May 2013

The present jade boulder is finely carved with a scene probably depicting Two Views
the Eight Immortals, baxian, and two attendants in a mountainous Fine Chinese Art | 187
landscape. The Eight Immortals represent the attainment of the Daoist
ideal, immortality. The symbolism of longevity is further reinforced by the
carved deer, cranes, lingzhi fungus and the peach, all associated with
longevity. According to legend the Immortals reside in the isle of Penglai,
a paradise said to consist of several mountains in the Eastern Sea.

The style of carving of the mountainous boulder and particularly the
carving craftsmanship of the figures on the front and the peach tree
bearing five of the auspicious fruit, resemble that of a green jade boulder
with five aged man, Qing Dynasty, in the Palace Museum, illustrated by
Zheng Xinmiao, ed., Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum:
Jade 8 - Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Beijing, 2011, pl.95 (see fig.1
opposite).

Compare a related green jade Imperially-inscribed boulder, Qianlong,
carved with Immortals, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong on 30 May 2012, lot
4009.