A PALE CELADON JADE 'SCHOLAR' PEBBLE QING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY

the substantial stone of oval section, worked on one face in relief depicting a scholar seated on a rocky ledge in a grotto, his head lifted looking at clouds of vaporous steam issuing from a boiling kettle before him, the reverse similarly worked with a gnarled pine tree amongst overhanging rocks, the stone of an even pale celadon tone

Jade: Ch'ing Dynasty Treasures from the National Museum of History, National Museum of History, Taipei, 1997.
The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, Santa Ana, California, 1997-1998.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston, Texas, 1998, cat. no. 14.

C.C. Teng & Co., Jade Furnishings from the Scholar's Studio of Eighteenth Century, Taipei, 2001, cat. no. 13.

The pebble is in good condition. The catalogue illustration is a tinge brighter than the actual colour of the stone.
"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 animated carving has been carefully worked with strong literati allusions where a scholar is seated within a grotto boiling tea. The depiction of a reclusive scholar in a rustic natural setting epitomises the concept of 'landscape in miniature'. Small jade carvings of this type were often found on scholar's desks, and served as vehicles for the scholar and connoisseur to be transported in their imagination to far-off realms. 

Although jade mountains of varying sizes rendered with similar subjects were widely known in the late Ming and Qing dynasties, pebbles of such form worked with a scholarly scene were relatively unusual. The present carving, with its manageable size, would have served not only as a paperweight, but also a pleasing object to handle or amuse in a scholar's studio.

Compare a slightly larger pebble from the collection of Dr Ip Yee, carved with a luohan in a grotto, attributed to late Ming-early Qing dynasty, included in the exhibition Chinese Jade Carving, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1983, p. 262, cat. no. 234.