Page 86 - Yamanaka co Auction catalog

144-IMPERIAL WEDDING GIFT (Ch'ien-lung)
Carving of pink coral, its theme drawn from Taoist legend
and belief. In the rocky base, where hardy, stunted trees
grow, a monkey is seen at the entrance of a cavern, on his
shoulder a branch with two peaches on it, from the tree of
the fruit of long life which the god of longevity, Shou-lao,
sent him to climb and bring down the desired and potent
food. Above, on a wide-reaching ledge, at one end of which
is a pine tree and at the other a peach tree, are Shou
and his immortal companions Fu and Lu, gods of happi-
ness and wealth or rank, with an attendant standing at
either side of Lu. Teakwood base of openwork carving
of rockery, the sacred fungus, plum blossoms and the
bamboo tree, on stands of carved teak and green-toned
ivory, covered by a case.
If eight of coral, 15 inches.

145-IMPERIAL VVEDDING GIFT (Ch'ien-lung)
Carved from a single piece of brilliant pink coral, with
trees at the side attached. On a ledge of rock in the land
of the immortals are the gods of rank, longevity and happi-
ness, among pine trees, Lu with his scepter and emblem
the stag, Shou with his staff and peach and an attendant,
and Fu with a boy in his arms and accompanied by an-
other boy. In a cave below some clouds is the monkey
that Shou used to send up his peach tree to gather the
fruit for him, with a branch bearing two of the peaches.
At either side is a stork. On a teakwood base of open-
work carving representing peaches, inlaid at the bottom
with silver wire, this supported on other stands of carved
teak and boxwood and green-tinted ivory, and under the
protection of a case.
Height of coral, 161f4 inches.