QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

Details

A PALE CELADON JADE 'CATFISH' BOWL
QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY
The tapering sides carved around the exterior in shallow relief with winged insects flying through swaying millet stalks, the interior carved in high relief with two catfish swimming in mutual pursuit beside similar grasses, the softly polished stone of even pale celadon tone
5 1/4 in. (13.4 cm.) wide, wood stand, box

Provenance

Acquired in Hong Kong during the 1950s

Brought to you by

Aster Ng

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Lot Essay

The pair of catfish 'nian yu' provide a rebus suggesting 'year after year' and the word for fish in Chinese yu provides a homonym for 'abundance', so the bowl also promises them prosperity. The combination with reeds of millet symbolises the wish for 'a bumper harvest year after year'.

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