Lot 3961. A small finely carved spinach jade cylindrical brush pot, bitong, Qing dynasty, 18th century; 4 3/4 in. (12.2 cm.) high. Estimate 1,200,000 - HKD 1,800,000. Price realised HKD 1,700,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2012.  

The solid walls of the brush pot are deeply carved around the exterior with a continuous landscape scene with two immortals and an attendant before pavilions set amidst lush gardens of lingzhi, bamboo, wutong and plantain trees, steep rugged rocks, waterfalls and babbling brooks. The mottled spinach-green stone has paler moss-green and cream coloured areas, suffused with black striations.

Provenance: E.J.C. Vint
Property from the Vint Family Collection
Sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 3 December 2008, lot 2602.

Note: A very similar brush pot from the collection of Sir J. Buchanan-Jardine was included in the 1935-1936 International Exhibition of Chinese Art, Royal Academy of Arts, London, and is illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 2855 and may have been an influencing factor in the Vint Family's decision to acquire the present piece.

Christie's. The Imperial Sale, Hong Kong, 30 May 2012