AN INSCRIBED YELLOW JADE ARCHER'S RING AND ENAMELLED SILVER CASE

18TH CENTURY

Details

AN INSCRIBED YELLOW JADE ARCHER'S RING AND ENAMELLED SILVER CASE
18th century
The ring carved around the exterior in shallow relief with a seven-character inscription in cursive script and a blossoming prunus branch, the stone of even pale yellow tone, the case decorated around the exterior with a long poetic inscription and figures in a landscape on a white enamel ground
The ring 1. 1/16 in. (2.7 cm.) diam.

Lot Essay

The inscription on the case reads men za zhu lu san qian ke shi...zuo shengya, 'The gate swings open, [and there are] three thousand guests [in] vermilion shoes...poetry ... making a livelihood'. This could be interpreted that 'vermilion shoes' indicates rich and eminent members of society and the poem refers to a well-known poet's literary fame and prestige, as indicated by the eminence of his visitors.

The seal appears to read shu, translating as 'book' or 'literature'.

The inscription on the archer's ring reads te shi ... xiang wei xiao, translating as 'Remarkably...[their] perfume has not dissipated', refering no doubt to a sprig of prunus, which along with lingzhi is the subject of the jade carving itself.

More from Chinese

View All