Page 105 - March 17 2017 Chinese Art NYC, Christies
P. 105
(another view)
1084
A FINE WHITE JADE ‘QUAIL AND LINGZHI’ PENDANT
THE PENDANT 18TH CENTURY
The pendant is carved from fne, even-toned white jade as a quail
perching on top of a double-headed lingzhi fungus and grasping a
leafy, fruiting branch in its beak. The pendant is strung together with
thirty-three white jade beads of graduated size fastened with a silver
clasp.
The pendant 2¿ in. (5.5 cm.) high
$20,000-30,000
PROVENANCE
Acquired in New Jersey in the 1980s-1990s.
The lingzhi fungus represents the longevity, since it sounds similar
ling, meaning ‘age’, and its shape inspires that of a wish-granting
ruyi scepter. The quail, anchun, symbolizes ‘peace’, ping’an. Although
rebuses expressing the hope for long life or for peace are both
common in the Chinese art, the combination of a quail and a lingzhi
fungus is very unusual.
白玉歲安圖珮 珮：清十八世紀
103
