A WHITE JADE PENDANT PLAQUE, SIGNED ZIGANG QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

the rectangular plaque surmounted by a pair of confronting archaistic qilong dragons, finely carved with a cartouche enclosing Zhang Qian riding on his log raft amid turbulent crashing waves, the reverse with a four-column inscription written in lishu and signed Zi gang, the fine white stone of an even tone

Exquisite Jade Carving, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1996, cat. no. 203b.

The overall condition is very good.
"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."

The inscription reads:
Why take a journey to the Milky Way
Every year to the magpie bridge
Junping¹ knows why
Numerous are the meteors tonight
Zi Gang

The excellent quality of this stone is enhanced by the refined and delicate modelling of Zhang Qian, the famous 2^nd century imperial envoy of the Han dynasty. He is regarded as the first official diplomat who brought reliable information about Central Asia back to the Chinese imperial court and is celebrated for his important pioneering role in opening China to the world of commercial trade. Zhang Qian's accounts of his explorations of Central Asia are detailed in the Early Han historical chronicles Restoration of the Grand History (Shiji), complied by Sima Qian in the 1^st century BC. As immortalised in a Yuan dynasty poem, the legendary explorer is shown floating peacefully in a log raft in his attempt to discover the source of the Yellow River. According to the poem, he instead finds himself afloat in the Milky Way. 

See closely related pendants with similarly rendered dragons surmounting a central scene carved in a similar style; for example see one depicting two ladies, from the Qunicy Chuang Collection and included in the exhibition Chinese Jades from Han to Ch'ing, Asia House Gallery, New York, 1980, cat. no. 218; and another with two figures in conversation sold in these rooms, 22^nd May 1984, lot 215.

¹Junping, a famous philosopher of the Western Han dynasty, was renowned for his fortune telling skills.