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Lot Essay
This brush washer is finely carved in high relief in the shape of a large lingzhi fungus with its mouth rim forming a ruyi and the body decorated with eight small lingzhi heads. The combination of nine lingzhi is highly auspicious, since the word ‘nine’ is a homonym for longevity, jiu. As for the word ruyi, it forms the rebus ‘ruyi’, ‘may you have fulfillment of all thy wishes'.
In China, the lingzhi fungus has always been a powerful traditional medicine but is also an auspicious symbol of longevity and immortality. In Chinese iconography, lingzhi is a recurrent pattern as seen in scrolling cloud motifs or on ruyi scepters. Compare to a superb pale greenish-white vase in lingzhi form associated with a ruyi form rim, dated 18th century, sold at Christie’s, New York, 22 March 2007, lot 122.
Jade washers of this generous size and of such carving qualities are extremely rare and would have been an important addition to the desk of a scholar or a high ranking official. With its many symbols of long life and good fortune, this magnificent jade washer would have been an ideal gift for a birthday celebration. A similarly decorated pale celadon ‘nine-lingzhi’ washer, dated to the Qing dynasty, is in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing. Compare to another large pale celadon jade ruyi-formed brush washer, dated 18th century, sold at Sotheby’s, New York, 16 September 2014, lot 270.
In China, the lingzhi fungus has always been a powerful traditional medicine but is also an auspicious symbol of longevity and immortality. In Chinese iconography, lingzhi is a recurrent pattern as seen in scrolling cloud motifs or on ruyi scepters. Compare to a superb pale greenish-white vase in lingzhi form associated with a ruyi form rim, dated 18th century, sold at Christie’s, New York, 22 March 2007, lot 122.
Jade washers of this generous size and of such carving qualities are extremely rare and would have been an important addition to the desk of a scholar or a high ranking official. With its many symbols of long life and good fortune, this magnificent jade washer would have been an ideal gift for a birthday celebration. A similarly decorated pale celadon ‘nine-lingzhi’ washer, dated to the Qing dynasty, is in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing. Compare to another large pale celadon jade ruyi-formed brush washer, dated 18th century, sold at Sotheby’s, New York, 16 September 2014, lot 270.