THREE SMALL WHITE JADE RECTANGULAR PENDANT PLAQUES

18TH/19TH CENTURY

Details

THREE SMALL WHITE JADE RECTANGULAR PENDANT PLAQUES
18TH/19TH CENTURY
The smallest is carved on one side with a mythical beast beneath a pine tree peering up at a bird in flight above, and on the reverse with a seven-character inscription, jun zi pei zhi bao an kang, followed by a seal, zu min, within an archaistic border. The largest is carved on one side with two scholars, one carrying a basket, the other a hoe, and is inscribed on the reverse with a lengthy inscription, cai yao dao tian tai/xian yuan qu ci kai/hu ma sui shui chu/shei fei cun xin lai. The third, with lobed upper and lower edges, is carved on one side with a scholar and an attendant carrying a goose, and on the reverse with an inscription, shan yin dao shi ru xiang jian/ying xie huang ting huan bai e, and a seal, Zigang.
1 3/8, 1 15/16 and 1 9/16 in. (3.5, 5 and 4 cm.) high (3)

Provenance

Lizzadro Collection, Chicago, Illinois, acquired prior to 1960.

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Lot Essay

The inscription on the first plaque may be translated, 'the man of complete virtue wears it (the pendant) for safety and health.' The inscription on the second plaque may refer to a legend from the Eastern Han period, in which two men collecting herbs in the mountains met and married two female immortals. Having lived a hermit's life for months, they learned on their return home that several generations had passed. The inscription on the third plaque, which may be translated, 'If the Daoist priest Shanyin sees you, he may write the Huangting scripture in exchange for your goose,' is taken from a poem by the Tang dynasty master Li Bai, to his friend and poet He Zhizhang, who is returning to Yuezhou for his retirement.

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