A 'SUZHOU SCHOOL' WHITE JADE CARVING OF A TOAD QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

naturalistically carved with a small toad lying on a lotus pad grasping a clamshell with his front right foot, his bumpy skin covering his back, the lotus pad retaining some of the russet skin

Chinese Jade Carving, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1983, cat. no. 289.

Hei-Chi, Jades from the Hei-Chi Collection, Beijing, 2006, p. 197.

The overall condition is very good. The russet skin and vein is on the underside an along a vein that runs up the side.
"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."

This piece is remarkable for its intricate attention to detail as seen by the textured back of the toad; a related figure on a lotus leaf was included in the exhibition Chinese Jade Carving, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1983, cat. no. 184. See an example with a smooth back sold in our New York rooms, 24^th March 1998, lot 335; a smaller carving, from the Gerald Godfrey collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30^th October 1995, lot 884; and a third toad sold in these rooms, 6^th December 1978, lot 1198, and again at Christie's New York, 1^st December 1988, lot 91.

The toad is one of the wudu ('Five Noxious Creatures'), which also includes the viper, spider, centipede, and scorpion, which was believed to combat poison. This five-creature motif was embroidered onto children's clothes and made into papercuts and charms and worn during the Duanwu Festival at the beginning of summer, when many of these noxious creatures came out.