A WHITE JADE 'BOY AND DEER' GROUP QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

finely carved in the round as a boy holding a large ripe peach tied in a ribbon with a deer standing beside him clutching a sprig of lingzhi fungus in its mouth, dressed in flowing robes falling in undulous folds with a double-gourd attached on his backside emitting billowing smoke swirls and from which a bat emerges, the bald head framed by two buns and the facial features delicately picked out with a broad smile, the smooth, glossy stone of a pure white tone with small areas of russet

The carving is in excellent condition, with only a minute nick to the tip of one leaf on the reverse. The stone is very glossy and has a nice patina. There are some natural veins running through the stone.
"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."

Skilfully carved to capture the warmth and charm of the subject, the present piece is remarkable for the exquisitely rendered forms and highly-polished surface. Moreover, this carving is an outstanding example of the ingenuity of the carver to utilise as much of the superb-quality original pebble as possible to convey the multiple layers of auspicious meaning. While it was important for families to ensure that their family name would be carried on through the birth of sons, it was imperative that the son be distinguished and thus to bring honour to the family. The smiling boy carries a peach, a symbol of longevity, and wears a double gourd across his back while tilting his head up as though speaking. Images of such boys sometimes include a katydid, and the close pronunciation of 'katydid' (guoguo) with 'brother' (gege) suggests that a family has more than one boy, implying the wish for many sons. As the only animal capable of searching out the fungus of immortality (lingzhi), the deer that the boy leans towards holds a stylised fungus in its mouth to symbolise longevity; while the combination of a deer with a bat conveys the wish for blessing and emolument to be complete.

It is unusual for carvings to include such an array of motifs; for a carving of a boy carrying a large peach and with a large sack across his shoulders sold at Christie's London, 16^th December 1987, lot 561.