Page 188 - Sothebys Speelman Gems of Chinese Art

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A RARE WHITE JADE ‘WANG 清乾隆 白玉雕羲之愛鵝筆擱
XIZHI’ BRUSH REST 《乾隆年製》款

SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF 來源：
QIANLONG 法國私人收藏

horizontally oriented and worked in the form of the bearded
scholar, Wang Xizhi, reclining before a goose against
ornamental rockwork, the figure depicted in a relaxed manner
with the right hand holding a fan and resting on the propped-
up right knee, the underside incised with a four-character
seal mark, the stone of an even white colour with icy and faint
russet inclusions
10.1 cm, 4 in.
PROVENANCE
A French private collection.
HK$ 800,000-1,000,000
US$ 103,000-128,000

Delicately carved from a milky white stone, the present piece
is a fine example of small, symbolic jade carvings made
as sculptures, curios or paperweights to adorn scholars’
studios. It depicts Wang Xizhi (303-361 AD), one of China’s
most celebrated calligraphers and a favourite of the Qianlong
Emperor. Qianlong placed Wang’s Kuai xue shi qing tie
(Sudden Clearing after a Lively Snowfall) alongside two
further great masterpieces of calligraphy, Zhongqiu tie (Mid-
Autumn), by his son Wang Xianzhi (344-386) and Boyuan tie
(Letter to Boyuan), by his nephew Wang Xun (350-410), in the
Sanxitang (Hall of Three Rarities), which was named after the
works.
This charming carving is notable for the gentle expression of
Wang’s face and his relaxed pose which is accentuated by the
goose at his side. Wang’s fondness for geese is reflected in the
famous story where he copied the Daoist classic Daodejing
for a priest in exchange for a white goose. Wang is also known
to have acquired inspiration from natural forms, including the
graceful necks of geese. Thus, this carving would have been a
rich source of reflection and enjoyment to its owner through
its symbolic association of the goose with Wang, coupled with
the contentment embodied by the figure.
A brushrest similarly carved in the round with a scholar
reclining against rockwork was sold in our New York rooms,
19th March 2007, lot 3; a figure of a seated scholar holding a
ruyi sceptre was sold in our London rooms, 11th June 1996,
lot 199; and carving of a scholar leaning on a pile of books was
included in the exhibition Chinese Jade Carving, Hong Kong,
1983, cat. no. 176.

Mark

186 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比