A PALE CELADON JADE 'TWIN DEER AND PEACH' QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

well worked in the form of two deer, one depicted with its head turned towards its back to face the other deer with longer horns, both grasping a long gnarled twig bearing large peaches and lingzhi blossoms, a bat with outstretched wings depicted on one of the peaches, the stone of a pale celadon colour mottled with faint white and russet inclusions

Sotheby’s New York, 26th October 1980, lot 75.
Christie’s New York, 20th September 2002, lot 198. 

The group is in overall very good condition with just small nicks to the extremities as can be expected, including the edges of leaves and lingzhi, as well as the bat's wings, the largest measuring approx. 0.7 cm. There are also polished down tips to the deer's horns possibly to conceal earlier nicks.
"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 figure is particularly notable for the high quality boulder from which it has been carved. Of large size and even colouration, the craftsman has drawn attention to the beauty of the jade through the restrained carving, leaving broad areas undecorated. The artist’s respect for the stone is further demonstrated in the sensitive modelling of the two deer, which are depicted in naturalistic poses grasping a finely formed sprig of lingzhi and fruiting peaches.

A carving of two deer with lingzhi, from the Qing court collection and still in Beijing, is illustrated in The Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum. Jade, vol. 9, Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, pl. 145; one in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, is published in Chinese Jades. Archaic and Modern from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, London, 1977 pl. 215; another was sold in our London rooms,  31st October 1986, lot 305; and a fourth example was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1st June 2011, lot 3561. Compare also jade carvings of this type attributed to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), such as one illustrated in The Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum. Jade, vol. 6, Ming Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, pl. 244; and another, sold in our London rooms, 5th December 1995, lot 110.

The deer is symbolic of longevity and wealth, and its supernatural traits can be traced back to as early as the Han dynasty. As encapsulated in the iconography of the present carving, the deer was considered the only animal capable of finding the lingzhi, fungus of immortality, and was as a result was the companion animal to the god of longevity, Shoulao, and Magu, goddess of immortality. The word for deer ‘lu’ is homophonous with the word for emoluments, the salary of a scholar official, and ‘road’; hence two deer create the auspicious pun lulu shunli (‘May all the roads be smooth’).