A rare imperial white jade 'zodiac' plaque Qing Dynasty, 18th century

the translucent white stone of rectangular form with notched corners, carved in the centre with an integral freely revolving yin-yang symbol, encircled on one side with shallow relief zodiac animals and on the reverse with the twelve cyclical year characters in archaic seal script, all set below a foliate scroll on top

E.T. Chow Collection. 

Apart from a minute nick to the edge of the interior circle and one on the side and a tiny bruise to the bottom edge, the overall condition is very good. The stone is evenly white throughout.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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Carved with a charming frieze of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals on one side and the twelve cyclical characters in archaic seal script on the reverse, the present piece is notable for the freely-revolving yin-yang symbol in the centre. The time and energy that has been invested into creating a piece with this novel feature is remarkable considering the labour-intensive method of grinding and polishing down this extremely hard stone, and no other plaque of this type appears to have been published. Compare an elaborately carved white jade pendant of a bi constellation disc, similarly designed with a line of inscription radiating from the centre, sold in these rooms, 1^st May 1991, lot 273. See also a large jade disc carved with the zodiac animals and twelve imperial symbols around a central yin-yang symbol, in the Yale University Art Museum, New Haven, illustrated in William Watson and Chuimei Ho, The Arts of China After 1620, London, 2007, p. 83.