Page 91 - March 17 2017 Chinese Art NYC, Christies

ANOTHER PROPERTY

~1071
A PALE GREY AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF LIU HAI ON A RAFT

LATE MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY
The Immortal is shown kneeling in a petal-shaped vessel and paddling with his body twisted to the right
while his three-legged toad crawls over the prow. The stone is of pale greyish-green color with russet
patches to the prow and underside, and some darker fssure lines.
4√ in. (12.5 cm.) long, hongmu stand

$15,000-20,000

PROVENANCE

Acquired in Pennsylvania, 1980s.

Liu Hai is an immortal who is revered as a god of wealth, and is frequently depicted with a three-legged
toad, and sometimes with a string of cash. Although he is a popular subject for jade carvings, it is
unusual to fnd an example of the immortal carved paddling on a raft: such a carving requires a much
larger piece of precious jade, with a signifcant amount of wastage adding to the expense of production.
A pale celadon jade carving of Liu Hai on a log-raft sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 27 May 2014, lot 786.
晚明十七世紀 灰青玉雕劉海乘舟擺件

Please note that the use of the symbol ~ for 89
this particular lot is in reference only to the
accompanying wood stand for the lot. Please
contact the sale coordinator if you have any
questions.