CHINE, DYNASTIE MING, XVIIEME SIECLE

Details

GROUPE SCULPTE EN JADE CELADON ET ROUILLE
CHINE, DYNASTIE MING, XVIIEME SIECLE
Représentant un cerf couché aux côtés d'une biche sur une base rocailleuse, tous deux lovés l'un contre l'autre, tenant dans la bouche des lingzhi, socle en bois
Longueur: 13 cm. (5 1/8 in.)

Special notice

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Further details

A PALE CELADON AND RUSSET JADE 'DEER' GROUP
CHINA, MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY

Lot Essay

The deer is an emblem of longevity and is said to be the only creature able to find the lingzhi, a fungus which promotes longevity. In addition to its association with Daoist concepts of long life, the deer is also symbolic of riches, as its pronunciation, lu, is homophone for riches or official emolument. The image of the deer (moreover when there are two animals) is very auspicious and came to popularity in the Yuan and early Ming dynasties. See an example of a crouching deer with a lingzhi in its mouth dating from early Ming dynasty illustrated in Jadeware II - The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1995, p.274, pl.210. Compare the second deer of the present group with a pair of upright lingzhi shaped horns with the one illustrated in Chinese jades from the Man's Collection, 1996, p.176, pl.128.

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