Page 154 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art Nov 2013 London

Inscription This piece is inscribed with the characters:

Seal 如南山之壽以爾景福
152 | Bonhams
Which may be translated as:

‘Resembling the longevity of Southern Mountain so thou will have bright
fortune.’

The line is taken from the ancient Classic of Poetry, part of the
Confucian Canon. Southern mountain refers to the auspicious mountain
south of the ancient capital of Xian.

The jade is signed in an oval cartouche in which are the characters
春和 Chunhe or ‘Peaceful Spring’. The seal would indicate that the
inscription was composed by Yunli 允禮 (originally named Yinli 胤禮),
1697-1738, the seventeenth son of the Kangxi Emperor, who was a fine
scholar and patron of the arts, and compiled an anthology of his own
poetry entitled 春和堂集 Chunhe Tang Ji or The Collected Works of the
Master of Peaceful Spring Hall.

As the seventeenth son of the Kangxi Emperor, Prince Yunli was able
to indulge and cultivate his passion for calligraphy, classical learning
and poetry - in which he excelled - since childhood. Modelling himself
as a traditional Chinese literatus, refined and well-read, he was
shrewd enough to distance himself from factional court politics and
the struggles for succession. Yet despite his caution towards politics,
according to the official histories, he rose high in the government due to
his honesty and dilligence.

In April 1722, when his elder half brother became the Yongzheng
Emperor, Prince Yunli was granted the title of Prince Guo of the
Second Rank 果郡王. In 1725 he was awarded a higher allowance
for his services, until in 1728 he was promoted further to Prince Guo
of the First Rank 果親王. Prince Yunli was thereupon admitted to the
Grand Council, the most influential policy-making body in the Qing
Empire. When the Yongzheng Emperor was gravely ill, Prince Yunli was
entrusted to raise and support the heir-apparent; the future Qianlong
Emperor.

Under Qianlong’s reign, Prince Yunli was further empowered and
invested with great authority. As a known patron and devotee of Tibetan
Buddhism, Prince Yunli escorted the Dalai Lama back to Tibet from his
visit to the Qing court, inspecting military forces along the way. Prince
Yunli continued his patronage of Tibetan Buddhism and the Arts until
his untimely death aged just 41.

For another work signed Chunhe see S.Sargent ed., Franz Art: Chinese
Art from the Hedda and Lutz Franz Collection, Vol 1 Jade, Hong
Kong, 2010, p.164. see also V.L.Uspensky, Prince Yunli (1697-1738):
Manchu Statesman and Tibetan Buddhist, Tokyo, 1997. For his poetry
anthology see 春和堂詩集 Chun he tang shi ji (The Collected Poems of
the Master of Peaceful Spring Hall), Shanghai, 2009.

The present white and russet jade boulder is superbly carved enabling
the beholder to first appreciate the luminous quality of the white jade
stone highlighted against the contrast of the russet coloured deftly
carved mountains. A second look intakes the graduating mountains
geometrically yet naturally carved. The eye is then free to roam the
scene of the fluttering bats released from the box held by a boy
ascending towards the cloud wisps emerging from the double gourd
held by his companion amidst the tranquil landscape. This scene may
depict the Hehe Erxian, also known as the Immortals of Harmony and
Union. The bats represent auspicious wishes and good fortune and
therefore this scene would have been complemented by the carved
poetry meant to bestow upon the owner good wishes and fortune.

For a similar workmanship of the mountains see a pale green jade and
russet boulder from the Qing Court Collection, illustrated by Zheng
Xinmiao, ed., Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum -
Jade, Qing Dynasty, vol.8, Beijing, 2010, pl.97.

Given the strong relationship between Prince Yunli and both the
Yongzheng and the Qianlong Emperors, it is very likely that the present
boulder was presented as a gift either on the important occasion of
succession to the throne of either one of them.