A FINELY CARVED SMALL WHITE JADE PLAQUE, SIGNED ZIGANG QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD

the small rectangular plaque finely carved in shallow relief with a cartouche enclosing a warrior wearing an elaborately decorated armour, the reverse with an inscription in caoshu, with the characters Zi Gang inscribed in a horizontal line on the bottom edge, the fine white stone of an even tone

The plaque is generally in very good condition overall. The carving has been executed to a high standard. There is a tiny russet inclusion to the lower right hand edge, visible to one side of the plaque.
"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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

These types of plaques were among the most popular types fo jade carvings from the Suzhou workshops in the early Qing Dynasty.  The usually contained a poetic inscription on one side and an illustration on the other.  The texts and pictorial designs were taken from wood block print books of the period. 

The poem and illustration for this plaque are taken from a book entitled Wushuang Pu a collection of images of famous historical character accompanied by laudatory poems on the facing page.  This book, first published in the Kangxi period, is based on the work of the writer Jin Guliang, reputedly a pupil of the painter and woodblock artist Chen Hongshou (1598-1652), and contains a library of decorative designs.  Artists began to use it immediately as pattern book for the various kinds of art in the seventeenth century, including jade carving.  It also became used for decorating porcelain in the nineteenth century. 

The person represented on this plaque is Zhao Zilong (158-228), one of the five Tiger generals of the Shu Kingdoms and featured in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. 

The plaque pendant did not become popular until the early Qing Dynasty, so is is doubtful whether Lu Zigang, who lived in the second half of the 16th century ever carved a plaque like the present lot himself.  His name became synonymous with the finest carved white jades, and many of the jades produced a century after his death bore his "signature".  These plaques are now know simply as "Zigang" plaques.  Compare a similar plaque of Sun Ce in James Watt, Chinese Jades from the Collection of the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, 1989, cat.no. 59.