Page 28 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Nov 2014 Hong Kong

The Property of a Gentleman 士紳藏品

117 The present vase is a fine example of the master carver demonstrating
A fine and rare ‘sodden snow’ white jade the quality of the white jade stone on the plain surface of the vase
‘egrets and lotus’ vase and cover in the centre, whilst presenting his deft craftsmanship in the intricate
Qianlong/Jiaqing carving of the egrets or herons standing amidst the lotus blossoms,
The gleaming white stone expertly carved as a smooth flattened vase their petals superbly carved with undulating edges, all atop the swirling
with scroll handles and a stepped cover, flanked by a pair of egrets waves carved on the underside. The fine white jade stone quality
wading beneath a blossoming lotus pod and thickly curling lotus leaf would have underlined the symbolism represented by the egrets or
on the right, and another pair of egrets under a lotus flower and bud, herons, which when depicted amidst lotus, symbolise the Confucian
all rising from a bank of swirling foaming waves, wood stand. ideal of a virtuous official, as well as the meaning ‘may your path be
19cm (7 1/2in) wide (3). always upwards’. The characters for ‘egret’ (lu 鷺) and ‘reed’ (lu 蘆) are
homophones for the character for ‘road’ (lu 路), and the character for
HK$400,000 - 600,000 ‘lotus’ (lian 蓮), is a homophone for the character for ‘continous’ (lian
US$52,000 - 77,000 連). Together they form the phrase ‘lu lu lian ke 路路連科’ or ‘auguring
well for a string of successes in exams’ and most probably alluding to
清乾隆/嘉慶 白玉雕「一路連科」蓋瓶 the renowned Imperial jinshi examination, the gateway for appointment
in the imperial civil service.
Provenance 來源:
A distinguished European private collection, acquired circa Compare a related yellow jade carving of two joined vases flanked by
1950s-1970s, and thence by descent rams and a Buddhist lion, Qianlong seal mark and period, from the
Qing Court Collection, illustrated by Zheng Xinmiao, ed., Compendium
of Collections in the Palace Museum - Jade, Qing Dynasty, vol.10,
Beijing, 2010, pl.30.

A related white jade vase and cover flanked by a deer and a crane, 18th
century, was sold in our London rooms on 8 November 2012, lot 194.

26 | Bonhams