QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

A slightly smaller inscribed jade 'luohan and grotto' group (12.8 cm. high) from the Qianlong period in the British Museum, ref 1930.12 -17.15, is illustrated by Jessica Rawson in Chinese Jade, London, 1995, p 410, fig 1. In this book she discusses the origins and significance of this group of 'luohan and grotto' jade carvings. She writes that it is likely that sets of sixteen or eighteen luohan were made and that the subject's popularity during this period may have been boosted by a woodblock print of a jade carving of a luohan amongst rocks from the Gu yu tu pu, attributed to the Southern Song period, but 18th century, and illustrated in Chinese Jade, Fig 2, p 411.

Compare with a slightly smaller Qianlong period pale celadon jade 'luohan and grotto' group (16.8 cm high) sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 May 2009, lot 1971.