A Pale Celadon-Green Jade Mountain Qing Dynasty, 18th Century

of irregular form, following the shape of the pebble, well-carved with Shoulao and another Immortal crossing a bridge, under an ancient blossoming prunus tree amid rugged rockwork, the gnarled branches continuing on the reverse, arching over a swirling stream, the stone of pale celadon with tinges of russet and cloudy white accentuating the rocks

Christie's London, 5th May 1975, lot 103.
Gebauer Collection, by repute.
G. Malina, Inc, New York.
Acquired from the above by the present owner.

overall good condition, petal to one blossom above and to the left of the left-hand sage; another petal on reverse lost, internal flaws to stone, some with a cloudy russet and white hue
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 present work is a particularly intimate example of the 'Jade Mountain', where the jade boulder (or in this case, pebble) is boldly and irregularly carved to depict the rugged mountains, home to Immortals and reclusive scholars. These mountains, deeply carved with grottos, waterfalls, streams and rocky paths, are often inhabited by tiny figures at various pursuits among ancient flowering trees, epitomizing the concept of 'landscape in miniature'. They also serve as vehicles for the scholar and connoisseur to be transported in their imagination to far-off realms. 

One of the largest and most elaborate examples of this 'mountain with Immortals' type, is the carving dated in accordance with 1784 in the T. B. Walker Collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, illustrated in Robert D. Jacobsen, The Asian Galleries, Minneapolis, 1982, pp. 60-61. There are a number of small jade 'mountains' which are held in the Qing Court Collection, Taipei. For two examples of jade mountains on a small scale with rugged outlines, depicting sages in a landscape with bridges, see The Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictoral Jades of the Ch'ing Court, nos. 36, 42, pp. 132, 133, 146, 147. For another mountain, compare the piece illustrated in Alex Kerr, Immortal Images, The Jade Collection of Margaret and Trammell Crow, Dallas, 1989, pp. 18-19. Compare also a larger version retaining its boulder form, sold in these rooms, 23rd September 2004, lot 216.