A FINELY CARVED CELADON JADE BOULDER QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

finely carved to the front face as an upright mountainous landscape depicting equestrian figures trotting along rocky pathways, all below a small pavilion nestled in the mountain, the jagged cliffs and pathways arboured with blossoming pine and wutong trees, the reverse similarly carved, the base further detailed with uneven rockwork, the stone of a semi-translucent pale celadon tone with russet inclusions accentuating the rocks

Christie's London, 12th June 1989, lot 467.

The carving is in good condition with the exception of possible loss to a 5mm., section of the base of a tree (front face, lower middle) and a light polish to the outer surface.
"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 is a fine example of a yushan (jade mountain), where the jade boulder has been elaborately carved to depict a miniature landscape with rugged mountains, home to Immortals and reclusive scholars. These mountains, which adorned scholar’s tables, often featured irregular forms that were carved with paths, waterfalls, pine trees and vegetation, and were generally inhabited by figures and animals. Boulder mountains also reflect the jade carver’s skill in their ability to carve elaborate and lively tableaux within the confines of the boulder, keeping the silhouette intact while artistically manipulating the natural imperfections of the stone. Carved in varying levels of relief and undercutting, which is a technical challenge due to the hardness of the material, the stone appears translucent in those areas where the carving is deepest.

 

Jade mountain carvings were popular amongst the literati and in the imperial courts as objects of contemplation. The scenes were inspired by landscape painting and thus often depicted figures in vast and idealised landscapes, reflecting man’s love for nature and his insignificance in the cosmic realm. Robert Kleiner discusses the Chinese literati’s fascination with carved jade mountains in Chinese Jades from the Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, Hong Kong, 1996, p. 160, and notes that the expansive landscapes were idyllic settings into which the scholar could retreat without having to leave his study.

 

Compare smaller examples of jade mountain carvings inhabited by scholars, such as a russet and celadon example in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in The Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jades of the Ch’ing Court, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1997, cat. no. 40; one carved from a celadon stone, sold in our New York rooms, 31^st March 2005, lot 58; and a white jade boulder, but depicting horses on one side and a boy with buffalos on the other, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1^st December 2009, lot 1997.