Pot à pinceaux en jade blanc sculpté inscrit d'un poème impérial Chine, dynastie Qing, marque Qianlong yuti et époque Qianlong, vers 1776

cylindrique, à décor finement sculpté de deux chauves-souris en vol près d'un cerisier en fleurs, suivie par Qianlong yuti et probablement par le sceau huixin bu yuan

A small nick on the edge of the mouthrim, a few other small nicks on the inside edge of the footrim, one natural 4,5 cm linear inclusion in the stone towards the bottom of the brushpot, otherwise in good condition. The actual colour is a fraction more greyish celadon than the whiter catalogue illustration.
"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 poetic inscription on this brushpot is recorded in theYuzhi shiji (Poetry Collection by His Majesty) Siji (Fourth Collection) (Siku quanshu ed.), 39:29a.
[the poem can be dated to between 26 July and 31 July 1776]. It reads :

Such icy, snowy flesh and skin and graceful countenance,
You'd think it was those maidens, cloud chignons ravished,
One meets suddenly in bright moonlight beneath groves of trees,
But I know—these must have come from Guye Mountain!

The same poem can be found on an Album of Flower Paintings by Dong Gao" [The album by Dong Gao (1740-1818) consists of twelve pictures, for which the emperor composed twelve poems. The poem is titled "White Plum Blossom" and is the first of the series.
The allusion to the Guye mountain refers to the Master Zhuang (Zhuangzi) "One far distant Guye Mountain there lives a numen (sheren) whose skin is like ice and snow and who is delicate and graceful as a maiden". Guye Mountain is variously located somewhere at the edge of the world or out in the boundless reaches of the great Noth Sea. It is one of the realms of the transcendents (xian).

This small brushpot is notable for the even tone and translucency of the stone which is highlighted through the subtle carving. Such low relief carving follows in a style popularised in bamboo and wood brushpots which were similarly decorated with delicate and simple designs. Compare a slightly larger jade brushpot carved in a related style with a Chinese cabbage amidst rockwork, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27^th May 2009, lot 1976; and a larger example depicting figures in a landscape setting, from the collection of T.Y. Chao, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 18^th November 1986, lot 161.

The combination of bats with prunus branches represents the wish for the blossoms to bring an increased amount of the Five Blessings. The five petals of the prunus symbolise the Five Blessings: longevity, wealth, health, love of virtue and a peaceful death.