Lot 37. A large yellow jade 'gourd' brushwasher, 19th century; 9.8cm (3 7/8in) wide. Estimate HK$ 60,000-80,000. Sold for HK$ 81,250 (€ 9,706). Photo: Bonhams.

Crisply carved as an elongated gourd borne on gnarled leafy tendrils bearing smaller gourds and blossoms, the yellow stone with subtle russet inclusions, wood stand..

Provenance: An English private collection and thence by descent.

Note: Yellow jade was a favourite at the Qing Court and it was believed to have been particularly admired by the Qianlong emperor. The popularity of yellow jade is well documented as early as the Ming dynasty; in Sir Percival David's translation of the Ming dynasty text Gegu Yaolun ('Essentials of Chinese Connoisseurship'), white jade and yellow jade are listed as being particularly highly sought after.

Gourds surrounded by tendrils trailing smaller gourds are a popular concept in Chinese imagery, symbolising family strength and continuity. The larger and smaller gourds (瓜 gua and 瓞 die respectively) represent 'May you there be ceaseless generations of sons and grandsons' (瓜瓞綿綿 guadie mianmian) and the tendrils (蔓帶 mandai) are a pun for 'ten thousand generations' (萬代 wandai).

Compare a related but larger white jade brushwasher, 18th century, sold in our London rooms, 12 May 2011, lot 92.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 4 Jun 2015 10:30 HKT - HONG KONG, ADMIRALTY