A large celadon and russet jade ‘Longevity’ mountain, Qing dynasty, 18th century. Photo Sotheby's.

the boulder carved in the form of monumental pierced rocks, the front face with Shoulao holding a staff and a peach in his hands, standing between a young acolyte with lingzhi and a deer, all beside a gnarled peach tree with a pair of bats in flight above, the stone of a greyish celadon tone with russet-brown inclusions; 27cm., 10 5/8 in. Estimation 80,000 — 120,000 GBP

Provenance: An Italian Private Collection.
Sotheby's Milan, 19th October 2010, lot 45

The present piece has been carved from an exceptionally large jade boulder, from which the craftsman has cleverly fashioned a mountain carving that follows its shape to ensure minimal wastage of the precious stone. The carving is full of auspicious symbolism through the depiction of Shoulao, the Daoist God of Longevity, who is one of the most popular gods due to his ability to extend one’s life. He is depicted with his emblems of longevity: the peach and deer. The pair of bats (fu) flying above the rockwork together with the peaches form the pun ‘May you possess both blessings and longevity’ (fushou shuangquan).

Jade mountain carvings depicting Shoulao are known in smaller sizes and a variety of forms; see two sold in our London rooms, the first , 7th November 2012, lot 478, the second, depicting the immortal followed by two attendants, 4th November 2009, lot 138; another from the collection of the Honorable Judge Edgar Bromberger, sold in our New York rooms, 12th September 2012, lot 308; and a fourth example from the collection of Gerald Godfrey, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30th October 1995, lot 815.

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