CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, ÉPOQUE QIANLONG (1736-1795)

The openwork decoration of a bat and the longevity peach represents the rebus fushou shuangquan (May you possess both blessings and longevity) while the lotus (he) provides a rebus for harmony. White jade washers of this elegant form and pure colour are well sought-after. The present washer may be compared to a white jade washer of similar form with ring handles and raised on four cloud-form feet, dated to mid-Qing dynasty, illustrated in Zhongguo Yuqi Quanji (The complete collection of Chinese jade), vol. 6, Shijiazhuang, 1991, p. 219, no. 320. See a nearly identical white jade brushwasher, dated 18th century, of a slightly larger size (13.7cm), sold in Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 April 2014, lot 3037.