A RARE AND LARGE PALE CELADON JADE 'RUYI'-FORM BRUSH WASHER QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

of irregular section, the thick-walled, shallow vessel carved as a single stylized lingzhi, two large incurved scrolls forming the 'head' of the ruyi shape, all resting on a narrow conforming foot, the exterior with two later-added inscriptions, the stone of an even color with some opaque pale russet mottling 

Christie's New York, 28th March 1996, lot 21. 

The washer is in overall good condition. There are minor nicks around the edges, and the gilding over the inscription has likely worn off.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Jade washers of this size and of such even color are extremely rare. The generous dimension and quality of the stone indicate that it originated from Khotan, a western region conquered by the Qianlong emperor in 1759.  From 1761 until 1787 tribute shipments of Khotanese nephrite were sent to Beijing twice a year. The availability of big pieces of good stone allowed artisans to create larger scale works such as the present washer. A Qianlong period vessel of foliate form described as a jardiniére and as Hetian nephrite is illustrated in Michael Knight et al., Later Chinese Jades, Ming Dynasty to Early Twentieth Century from the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, San Francisco, 2007, no. 182. For a more typical smaller sized ruyi-form washer of the same pale celadon color see Ip Yee,  Chinese Jade Carving, Urban Council Hong Kong and the Min Chiu Society, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1983, p. 254, no. 228. A large white jade washer of quadrilobed section but with similarly broad walls, with a four-character Qianlong mark was sold in these rooms 14th September 2011, lot 243.