A WHITE JADE 'QUAIL' PENDANT PLAQUE LATE MING DYNASTY

the small rectangular plaque delicately carved in shallow relief with a quail perched on an ear of millet, the plumage of the bird picked out with fine incisions, the reverse with four characters written in zhuanshu, the stone of a pure white tone

Exquisite Jade Carving, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1996, cat. no. 200c.

The side with the inscription has a 2mm nick to the edge and there are a couple of other minute nicks to the edges, but the overall condition is still 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."

Carefully selected areas for tasteful minute detailing, such as the wings of the bird, coupled with an uncluttered composition that reveals the high-quality of the stone, enhance the delicacy of this pendant. An emblem of courage, the quail is closely allied to the partridge and greatly valued in China on account of its fighting abilities. The fist character of 'quail' (anchun) is homophonous with the second character for 'peace' (ping'an), while multiple ears of grain' is a pun for 'year after year' (sui). Thus, the inscription suisui ping'an on the present piece can be translated as 'May you have peace year after year'. Images of quails with ears of grain grew in popularity from the Qing dynasty; for example see an ivory carving from the Avery Brundage collection, illustrated in Terese Bartholomew, Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art, San Francisco, 2006, p. 245, fig. 8.22.2.

For a pendant similarly carved with birds on one side and inscription on the other, see a slightly later version sold in these rooms, 6^th December 1978, lot 1166.