18TH-19TH CENTURY

Details

A WHITE JADE RECTANGULAR PLAQUE
18TH-19TH CENTURY
One side is carved in low relief with a scholar watching a boy climbing the tree dropping leaves to another boy waiting at the base of the tree with a bucket, and the reverse is carved with a scholar pointing at a crane in flight above as a boy chases it, all below confronted dragons at the top. The semi-translucent stone is of even white color.
2 1/8 in. (5.3 cm.) high

Provenance

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

Brought to you by

Olivia Hamilton

asianartny@christies.com +1 212 636 2180

Lot Essay

The scenes carved on the present plaque depict two historical figures Ni Zan (1301-1374) and Lin Bu (967-1028) respectively.

Ni Zan is a famous Yuan-dynasty painter known for his love of nature, particularly wutong trees. Legend relates that when a guest of his spat on his beloved wutong tree, he had his attendant clean the tree after the guest’s departure.

Lin Bu was a poet who lived as a recluse near Hangzhou’s West Lake. Never officially married, he was known for claiming plum tree as his wife and crane as his children. Every morning, he would release the cranes from their cages, and every evening they would return to him.

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