Lot 157. A rare very pale green jade double-carp vase, Qianlong-Jiaqing (1736-1820); 18cm (7in) high. Estimate: HK$300,000 - HK$500,000. Sold for HK$ 1,250,625 (€ 142,376) inc. premium. © Bonhams 2001-2019

Meticulously carved in the form of two 'fish dragons', or ao referring to one of the dragon's nine sons, emerging from rocks and tempestuous waves in an upright manner, their toothed mouths forming the mouths of the vase and conjoined by a flaming pearl, their ruyi-shaped large fins crossing with each other's with a bat flying above, their bodies naturalistically carved to render an even scaly texture, the stone of pale greenish-white tone with minor grey and opaque white inclusions.

Note: The carp or liyu 鯉魚 transforming into a dragon long 龍 is associated with the passing of the civil service examinations, hence forming the pun yutiao longmen 魚跳龍門. According to traditional folklore, carp swim upstream in the Yellow River at Hunan towards the Dragon Gate waterfall at Longmen. It is said that the first carp which successfully surpasses the rapids will transform into a fish-dragon yulong 魚龍. Such legend has led to the common saying that, 'a student facing his examinations is like a carp attempting to leap through the Dragon Gate', which bears the metaphor for a poor scholar who passes the civil service examinations and becomes a high official.

For related examples of jade vases in the form of a carp, Qing dynasty, see one illustrated in Masterworks of Chinese Jade in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1970, no.25; and two examples illustrated in the Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade 8, Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, nos.167 and 168.

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 28 May 2019, 15:30 HKT, Hong Kong, Admiralty