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A WHITE JADE 'HEHE ERXIAN' JADE BOULDER Qianlong image 1
A WHITE JADE 'HEHE ERXIAN' JADE BOULDER Qianlong image 2
A WHITE JADE 'HEHE ERXIAN' JADE BOULDER Qianlong image 3
A WHITE JADE 'HEHE ERXIAN' JADE BOULDER Qianlong image 4
THE PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN FAMILY 歐洲家族藏品
Lot 144*

A WHITE JADE 'HEHE ERXIAN' JADE BOULDER
Qianlong

15 May 2025, 11:30 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £24,320 inc. premium

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A WHITE JADE 'HEHE ERXIAN' JADE BOULDER

Qianlong
Meticulously carved in varying levels of relief with a jagged mountainous scene with two Immortals in long, flowing robes attempting to catch a bird, the upper-left corner intricately worked in openwork featuring branches of the wutong tree, the stone of even white colour with a subtle tinge of pale green. 15cm (5 7/8in) long.

Footnotes

清乾隆 白玉「和合二仙」山子

Provenance: a British private collection, acquired circa 1901-1902, and thence by descent

來源: 英國私人收藏,獲得於約1901-1902,並由後人保存迄今

The Hehe Erxian, also known as the 'Two Immortals of Harmony and Union,' are traditionally associated with a long and happy marriage. These Daoist Immortals trace their origins to the Tang dynasty (618–906) poet-monks Hanshan and Shide. By the late Ming dynasty, they were commonly depicted holding a lotus and a box—objects that form a visual pun on the homophones he (harmony) and he (union). In 1733, the Yongzheng Emperor formally decreed that they should be known as the 'Saints of Harmony and Unity.' See a related celadon jade carving of a vase flanked by the Hehe Erxian, Qing dynasty, in the Qing Court Collection, the Palace Museum, Beijing (acc.no.故00098325).

See a related pale celadon jade 'Hehe Erxian' boulder, Qianlong, which was sold at Sotheby's London, 9 November 2018, lot 402.

Additional information

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