A large pale celadon and russet jade 'deer and lingzhi' group, Qing dynasty, 18th century | 清十八世紀 青白玉靈芝雙鹿

The present piece is particularly notable for its large size and consistency in tone which has been displayed through the broad areas of the undecorated body. Skilfully modelled in the round, the sturdy figures effectively contrast with the finely carved branches of lingzhi fungus that scroll around the two deer to create a great sense of movement. The lingzhi fungus is symbolic of long life as is the deer (lu), which is not only associated with Shoulao, the God of Longevity, but a pun on 'emolument'. Compare with a related jade carving of a recumbent stag, 17th/18th century, illustrated in Chinese Jades from the Collection of the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, 1989, cat. no. 56.

青白玉質，選一大塊玉料作圓雕雙鹿。大小鹿反向臥於捲雲之上，口銜靈芝，小鹿回首俯臥，靈芝環繞鹿身，雕工鋼煉，整體造型巧妙靈動。「鹿」音同「祿」，寓意榮祿豐沛，同時鹿乃壽星之坐騎，因此古人認為鹿是祥瑞之物，而靈芝為延壽之草，加上蝙蝠代表福氣到來，三者結合展現出傳統的吉祥主題「福祿壽」。可對比一件十七/十八世紀玉雕瑞鹿，現藏於美國西雅圖藝術博物館，見《Chinese Jades from the Collection of the Seattle Art Museum》，西雅圖，1989年，編號56。