A Pale Celadon Jade Group of Two Boys 17th Century

depicting two boys in loose robes, the larger bearing a stalk of grain, the fruiting ears looping over his shoulder, the smaller boy bearing a drum and pointing to the stalk in the other boy's hand, the stone retaining a portion of the pebble-form, of pale celadon-green shading to gray-green with gray speckling toward the base, wood stand (2)

Mrs. D. Schwartz, Tunbridge Wells, England, by repute.
G. Malina, Inc., New York.
Acquired from the above by the present owner, September 1982.

overall very good condition, a few internal flaws, some incorporated into the carving, tiny bruise to edge of one stalk
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The subject of two boys with two heads of grain (he he  in Chinese), is an allusion to the Hehe Erxian (see lot 2 for a discussion of this subject). It is also possible that the present group is a reference to the mid-autumn Full Moon Festival, as related carvings of boys with millet sheaves also carry lanterns, a common sight during the festival. The circular drum may be a reference to the full moon. For related carvings compare the figure of a boy with millet stalk and lantern, attributed to the late Ming dynasty, illustrated in James C. Y. Watt, Chinese Jades from Han to Ch'ing, New York, 1980, no. 97, p. 114; and the figural group, also retaining a pebble-outline, illustrated in Robert Kleiner, Chinese Jades from the Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, Hong Kong 1996, no. 180, pp. 230-231.