AN EXQUISITELY CARVED WHITE JADE 'PINE' BRUSHPOT QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

of ovoid cylindrical form, the body superbly carved in high relief with a pine tree trunk issuing twisted branches heavily laden with clusters of needles amongst which two squirrels skitter playfully and under which large lingzhi are nestled, the body and base carved throughout in low relief with subtle dimpling and knots of the tree trunk, the interior smoothly polished, the stone of a translucent pure white tone with russet streaking to the stone skillfully utilized to depict the animals' fur, knotted roots and the reddish tinge of the pine needles

Removed from the Yuanmingyuan, Beijing, 1860. 
Thence by family tradition in the since the 19^th century. 
From a Private European Collection.
Christie's London, 4^th December 1995, lot 254.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 26^th October 2003, lot 34. 

The brushpot is overall in very good condition, apart from minute nibbles to the lower knot on the lower right hand side, illustrated on p. 103. The jade has a particularly attractive and glossy patina.
"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."

It is extremely rare to find carved jade brushpots of this unusual naturalistic form, and no other similar example appears to be recorded. The depiction of two squirrels and pine is also unusual, as squirrels are generally shown with grapes to symbolize ceaseless generations of sons and grandsons. Squirrels are thought to have great reproductive power and traditionally represent fertility. The pine (song) symbolizes longevity, and together with the bamboo (zhu), rock (shoushi) and fungus (lingzhi) is a pun for the saying 'songling gongshou'  which translates as 'wish for the aged pine to grant you longevity'.

This brushpot is insired by bamboo brushpots carved in the form of a pine stump; for example see a plain bamboo brushpot in the shape of a pine stump, of the late MIng period, illustrated in Ip Yee, Chinese Bamboo Carving, Part I, Hong Kong, 1978, pl. 16; and another of related form but carved in low relief with pine leaves, attributed to the 17th century, ibid., pl. 11.