Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART, London, 14 May 2015
A very pale green and russet jade boulder, Qianlong-Jiaqing period (1736-1820)
Lot 95. A very pale green and russet jade boulder, Qianlong-Jiaqing period (1736-1820); 8.3cm (3 1/4in) wide. Estimate: £ 4,000-6,000. Sold for £ 21,250 (€ 23,726). © Bonhams
The pebble-shaped stone of a lustrous pale tone scattered with some russet patches, intricately carved in deep relief to one side with a boy clambering on a tusked elephant, standing amidst rocky outcrops and overhung by a gnarled pine branch.
Provenance: acquired from Spink & Son, Ltd., London on 7 February 1979
An English private collection.
Note: The subject matter of a boy tending to an elephant, forming a rebus for the meaning 'may you have a peaceful and prosperous future', was popular with the Qing Court, as may be seen in two white jade carvings from the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jadeware (II), Beijing, 2008, pls.137-138.