A YELLOW AND RUSSET JADE 'LINGZHI' WASHER, QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

Collection of Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978).

來源

史蒂芬•瓊肯三世（1978年逝）收藏

The lingzhi fungus, Ganoderma lucidum, was considered the most important of all medicines and a talisman for luck. It is also associated with the virtues of a ruler. Classical texts such as Shangshu Dazhuan, Baihu Tong, and Ruiying Tu all consider the growth of lingzhi an indicator of good government. The lingzhi motif, commonly found on imperial wares, represents a visual rebus for the wish for longevity, and a virtuous and benevolent rule.

Compare a larger white jade lingzhi washer attributed to the Yongzheng to Qianlong period, from the collection of Sir Quo-Wei Lee, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 3rd October 2018, lot 109; and another celadon jade washer formerly in the Sui Yuan Zhai Collection, sold at Christie's London, 11th May 2015, lot 23. 

靈芝乃百草之首，被視為瑞草；靈芝亦被古籍記載為歌頌聖君賢王德政之仙草。《尚書大傳》曰：「王者德先地序，則芝草生」；《白虎通》曰：「德至山陵，則景雲出，芝實茂」；《瑞應圖》曰：「王者敬事耆老，不失舊故，則芝草生」。宮廷器物中多見靈芝題材，除了表達長壽安康，也顯示了聖王德政之美意。

參考一白玉靈芝洗，斷代清雍正至乾隆，原為利國偉爵士珍藏，售於香港蘇富比2018年10月3日，編號109；另比一青玉例，隨緣齋珍藏，售於倫敦佳士得2015年5月11日，編號23。