A CELADON AND GREY JADE 'DRAGON' BRUSH REST MING – EARLY QING DYNASTY

the horizontally orientated structure modelled with a jagged rockwork formation accentuated with cresting waves and a scaly dragon emerging through ruyi clouds, a small makara portrayed surging from the sea below, one side of the brush rest with a small receptacle, the celadon stone mottled with grey speckles 

This pieces exemplifies the aesthetic taste of scholar-officials of the Ming and Qing dynasties, who sought objects for their studio that had a variety of functions, such as brush rests and paperweights, as well as being works of art in their own right. See a larger brush rest worked with a similar subject matter, dated to the Qing dynasty, sold in these rooms, 1st June 2017, lot 5. Another larger similar carving, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in The Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum. Jade, vol. 9, Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, pl. 64, together with one modelled as three peaks with chilong, pl. 66; and another was sold in our New York rooms, 21st March 2015, lot 692.