A rare white jade figure of Wang Xizhi, Qianlong seal mark and period. Photo Sotheby's

the bearded scholar seated in a leisurely pose with his right hand holding a fan, leaning against pierced rockwork with a recumbent goose beside, the stone of a milky-white tone, incised with a four-character seal mark to the base; 10.5cm., 4 1/8 in. Estimation 30,000 — 50,000 GBP

Provenance: A French Private Collection.

Delicately carved from a milky white stone, the present piece is a fine example of small, symbolic jade carvings made as sculptures, curios or paper weights to adorn scholars’ studios. It depicts Wang Xizhi (303-361 AD), one of China’s most celebrated calligraphers and a favourite of the Qianlong Emperor. Qianlong placed Wang’s Kuai Xue Shi Qing Tie (Sudden Clearing after a Lively Snowfall) alongside two further great masterpieces of calligraphy, Zhongqiu tie (Mid-Autumn), by his son Wang Xianzhi (344-386) and Boyuan tie (Letter to Boyuan), by his nephew Wang Xun (350-410), in the Sanxitang (Hall of Three Rarities), which was named after the works.

This charming carving is notable for the gentle expression of Wang’s face and his relaxed pose which is accentuated by the goose at his side. Wang’s fondness for geese is reflected in the famous story where he copied the Daoist classic Daodejing for a priest in exchange for a white goose. Wang is also known to have acquired inspiration from natural forms, including the graceful necks of geese. Thus, this carving would have been a rich source of reflection and enjoyment to its owner through its symbolic association of the goose with Wang, coupled with the contentment embodied by the figure.

A brushrest similarly carved in the round with a scholar reclining against rockwork was sold in our New York rooms, 19th March 2007, lot 3; a figure of a seated scholar holding a ruyi sceptre was sold in our London rooms, 11th June 1996, lot 199; and carving of a scholar leaning on a pile of books was included in the exhibition Chinese Jade Carving, The Urban Council, Hong Kong, 1983, cat. no. 176.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. London, 14 mai 2014 - http://www.sothebys.com/