A LARGE PALE CELADON JADE 'NINE PEACH' BRUSHPOT 19TH / 20TH CENTURY |

of cylindrical form, the exterior carved in high relief with a gnarled peach tree, its knotted trunk issuing long undulating branches in each direction, the limbs sprawling around the sides of the pot and bearing nine large ripe peaches and clusters of twisting leaves, a crane soaring above one of the branches, a sprig of lingzhi sprouting at the base of the tree and another by the rockwork, the ground rising and falling in crests around the foot, the base with an apocryphal Qianlong yuzhi seal mark, the stone a greenish-white color with icy inclusions.

Alice Boney, New York.
Collection of Earl Morse (1908-1988), until 20th November 1982.
Collection of Florence (1920-2018) and Herbert (1917-2016) Irvin, no. 409.

Hugo Munsterberg, Art of the Far East, New York, 1968, p. 205.

The brushpot is in good overall condition with expected wear, tiny scattered nicks to edges and there is a very small indent or erosion from a pale brown inclusion just above the base.
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.

Sensitively carved from a large white jade stone of even tone, the present brushpot bestows good wishes of longevity and happiness upon the owner. Fruiting peach trees, cranes and lingzhi are all symbols of good fortune and long life. Nine peaches confer the phrase jiutao xianshou (‘nine peaches offer longevity’), whilst the crane and lingzhi reinforce this message, forming the rebuses heshou yannian (‘may the crane and lingzhi extend your years’), and hexian pantao (‘may the crane offer you peaches of longevity’).   Brushpots decorated with auspicious motifs expressed through vegetal imagery are unusual. A slightly smaller white jade brushpot carved with flowering and fruiting trees, but with a Qianlong mark and of the period, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Zhongguo yuqi quanji [Complete collection of Chinese jades], vol. 6, Shijiazhuang, 1993, pls 179 and 180; and another was sold at Christie’s New York, 26th March 2003, lot 28.