Page 170 - Bonhams Asian Art London November 5, 2020

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A SUPERB PALE GREEN JADE ‘IMMORTALS’ BOULDER Florence and Herbert Irving were avid collectors of Asian art for more
Qianlong than 50 years, and in 2015, they gave an extraordinary collection of
Superbly carved in high relief on one side with three bearded sages more than 1,200 works of art to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in
each carrying a peach, lingzhi fungus and lotus spray respectively, New York. In 1969, Herbert Irving co-founded the company Sysco.
beneath a gnarled pine tree, a pavilion higher above in the distance, Through hard work and dedication, the company was listed in 1970
the reverse with a crane gazing down on a deer, all within a craggy and by 2009, Sysco was ranked number 204 in the Fortune 500
grotto with further pine trees, the stone of very pale green tone with companies based on sales. Subsequently, Sysco grew to become
minor russet and cloudy inclusions, wood stand. one of the world’s leading food product distribution company with
20cm (7 7/8in) high. (2). sales of up to US$58 billion. This exceptional success brought with it
great wealth to Florence and Herbert Irving. Their collecting interests
£70,000 - 100,000 encompassed all of the major cultures of East and South Asia and
CNY610,000 - 880,000 virtually every medium explored by Asian artists and craftsmen over
five millennia. Their support of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
York was also recognised through the numerous galleries that bear
清乾隆 青白玉雕林中高士圖山子 their names, in addition to funding the Florence and Herbert Irving
Asian Wing in its entirety.
Provenance: Spink & Son, Ltd., London, 1980
Florence and Herbert Irving (1920-2018; 1917-2016) collection, This finely-carved boulder is a superb example of the sensitivity of the
no.336 18th century carvers in their use of the natural form of the stone to
portray a literati-style landscape scene. During the Qianlong reign, the
Published and Illustrated: R.Keverne, ed., Jade, London, 1991, emperor requested that jade mountains, as well as plaques and panels
p.174, fig.117 with scenes of mountainous landscapes, take their artistic influence
from the work of famous painters. The personal interest of the
來源：1980年購自倫敦古董商Spink & Son, Ltd. emperor, as well as the increased availability of large pieces of Khotan
佛羅倫斯·歐雲（1920-2018）與赫伯特·歐雲（1917-2016）伉儷舊 jade after the pacification of the area in 1759, prompted a proliferation
藏，編號336 of production of jade boulders of varying sizes exquisitely carved with
delicate mountain scenes resembling literati landscape paintings.
出版著錄：R.Keverne，「Jade」，倫敦，1991年，頁174, 圖117
Compare the present carving to a group of jade mountains carved with
landscape motifs in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in Jadeware
(III), The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum,
Hong Kong, 1996, nos.72-74.

See also a similar but slightly smaller pale green jade boulder, Qianlong,
which was sold at Christie’s London, 10 November 2015, lot 55.

Roger Keverne, Jade, London,
1991, p.174, fig.117

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
168 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.