Page 175 - Sothebys Important Chinese Art April 3 2018

This large sceptre is notable for the delicately carved scene of Jade boulders of such size were only made available
a leafy gnarled pipa (loquat) tree and a spray of wannianqing after the Western campaigns of 1759, when the Manchu
(Chinese evergreen) issuing from the ground. A sense of court gained control over areas of Khotan and Yarkand in
naturalism is achieved through the curling leaves and its present day Xinjiang. Since then, high-quality boulders of
softly rendered details and the bark of the tree. Jade sceptres magnificent sizes from these regions were presented to the
decorated with this motif are rare, and only one other example court as tributes and skilfully transformed to aesthetically
with a closely related scene was sold in these rooms, 4th pleasing works of art by jade artisans working in the Palace
November 1997, and again at Christie’s New York, 24th March Workshops. A talisman presented to bestow good fortune,
2004. Compare also a smaller sceptre carved with Chinese ruyi (literally meaning ‘as you wish’) sceptre is highly favoured
evergreen and a prunus tree, sold at Christie’s New York, 26th at the Qing court for the auspiciousness embodied within its
March 2010, lot 1097. Further sceptres carved in low relief distinctive form resembling the immortality fungus, lingzhi.
with plants include a larger example, depicting a fruiting peach Its auspicious connotation is further reinforced through
branch and a bat suspending a ribbon-tied wan emblem on the the decoration. Loquats, as harbingers of endless long life,
head, from the collection of Sherry and Lawrence Philips, sold represent abundance of offspring and plentiful blessings, while
at Christie’s New York, 24th March 2004, lot 53; and another wannianqing (literally meaning ‘ten thousand year green’), with
carved with peony flowers and a bat, sold in these rooms, 26th its evergreen characteristic and clusters of berries, symbolises
October 2003, lot 42. longevity and fertility.

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