A FINELY CARVED AND EMBELLISHED WHITE JADE BOX AND COVER QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD |

of square section, rising from a neatly-cut foot, the domed cover intricately inlaid with tourmaline, spinach-green jade and soapstone, depicting a gnarled leafy spray bearing five lingzhi fungus, all bordered by low-relief angular scrolls, the stone of an even white tone

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 29th April 1992, lot 690.

The box and cover are in good overall condition with just expected insignificant bruises and nicks to the edges, including the edge of the tourmaline lingzhi on the cover.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Jade covered boxes of this type are extremely rare and no other closely related example appears to have been published. The bright design of lingzhi, the auspicious longevity fungus, provides an attractive contrast with the subtle hues and relief-carved border of the white jade, and may have been inspired by hardstone-inlaid zitan boxes which grew in favour with the court from the Ming dynasty; see a slightly smaller box, attributed to the mid-Qing dynasty and adorned with a narcissus and nandina berry spray issuing from a rock, from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings, Shanghai, 2001, pl. 240. Hardstone embellishments on jade were generally reserved for decorative items such as ruyi sceptres; see two white jade ruyi sceptres, attributed to the Qianlong period, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, one decorated with peaches, bats and lingzhi fungus in lapis lazuli, coral and glass, included in the Museum’s exhibition Masterpieces of Chinese Ju-i Scepters in the National Palace Museum, 1995, cat. no. 6, and the other, finely inlaid with various gemstones depicting peaches, narcissus on the ruyi terminal and bamboos, lingzhi and rockwork on the shaft, exhibited in Emperor’s Treasures. Chinese Art from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, op. cit., cat. no. 178; and a pair from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, decorated with quails and millet, published in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 30, together with a white jade hairpin inlaid with a lotus flower design, pl. 7.