Page 111 - Wolly & Wallace, July 1, 2020 Chinese Works of Art UK

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A CHINESE PALE CELADON JADE CARVING OF A DEER
QIANLONG 1736-95
The stag depicted in a recumbent pose with his legs tucked under his body,
he holds a large flowering branch in his mouth, the blossoms and leaves
wrapping their way over the creature’s back, the stone with some minor
russet markings and white mottling, 7cm.
£3,000-5,000
Cf. Marchant, Ninety Jades for 90 Years, pp.100-101, no.52 for a similar
Qianlong jade carving depicting a recumbent stag lying next to a dog.
清乾隆 青白玉雕鹿銜蓮擺件

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A LARGE CHINESE CELADON JADE CARVING OF A QILIN
QING DYNASTY
The mythical beast depicted in a recumbent pose with its head turned back,
the qilin exhales smoke from its mouth which supports a book on its back,
the stone with russet inclusions and striations, 17cm.
£6,000-8,000
Cf. The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jadeware III,
p.114, no.94 for a related carving of a qilin carrying books on its back dated to
the Qianlong period.
According to legend, a qilin appeared before the pregnant mother of Confucius
and disgorged a jade tablet foretelling the future eminence of her unborn son.
The qilin with a book represents the wish that a son will be intellectually gifted
and bring honour to his family by passing the civil service examinations with great
success. Such pieces were used as ornaments for a scholar’s studio with the hope
that they would bring wisdom to their owner.

清 青白玉雕麒麟負書擺件

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A CHINESE WHITE JADE ‘PRUNUS’ ARCHER’S RING
QING DYNASTY
Carved in low relief to the exterior with a crested bird perching on a
flowering prunus branch, the white stone of an even tone, 3.5cm dia.
£3,000-4,000
清 白玉冰梅紋扳指

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