Lot 3727. A finely carved white jade mountain, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 13.7 cm., 5 3/8  in. Estimate 400,000 — 600,000 HKD. Lot Sold 500,000 HKD (50,992 EUR). Photo Sotheby’s

finely carved as a mountain landscape with jagged cliffs, one side detailed with Shoulao standing amidst the rockwork with an attendant, all below a large overhanging pine tree, while an additional scholar is depicted standing below, the reverse with a reclusive acolyte standing next to a gnarled pine tree, the stone of a pale celadon-white colour, wood stand.

Provenance: Spink & Son Ltd., London.

Exhibited: Exhibition of Chinese Arts, C.T. Loo & Co., New York, 1941-2, no. 357.

Note: For similar composition on a Qianlong period white jade mountain, see an example in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in The Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jades of the Ch’ing Court, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1997, cat. no. 42. The workmanship of the boulder, skilfully utilising the natural flaws of the stone to convey the countours and crevices of the mountain landscape, is similar to the current piece, as is the naturalistic composition of Shoulao and attendant, and the gnarled pine trees in the background.