Lot 652
652
A LARGE WHITE JADE FIGURE OF A RECUMBENT STAG
A LARGE WHITE JADE FIGURE OF A RECUMBENT STAG
A LARGE WHITE JADE FIGURE OF A RECUMBENT STAG
A LARGE WHITE JADE FIGURE OF A RECUMBENT STAG
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A LARGE WHITE JADE FIGURE OF A RECUMBENT STAG

17TH-18TH CENTURY

Details
A LARGE WHITE JADE FIGURE OF A RECUMBENT STAG
17TH-18TH CENTURY
The stag is shown with head raised and ears flat against the head below the backswept antlers that flank the knobby backbone. The stone of very pale greenish-white color has some opaque white markings and a spot of added russet color on the chest.
7 ½ in. (19 cm.) long
Provenance
C. T. Loo & Co., New York, 18 December 1941.
Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978) Collection.
Literature
C. T. Loo & Co., Exhibition of Chinese Art, New York, 1941, no. 313.
Exhibited
New York, C.T. Loo, Exhibition of Chinese Art, 1941.

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Rufus Chen (陳嘉安)
Rufus Chen (陳嘉安) Head of Sale, AVP, Specialist
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Lot Essay


This figure of a stag is unusually large for an animal carving of this period. Deer have a number of auspicious meanings in Chinese culture. Shoulao, the Star God of Longevity, is usually depicted accompanied by a spotted deer, as well as with a crane, peach and pine tree. Thus each of these, including the deer, has come to represent long life. Deer are also believed to be the only animals that can find the fungus of immortality. In addition, deer may represent Luxing, the God of Rank and Emolument. The Chinese word for deer, lu, sounds like the word for emolument or an official salary.

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