A large pale celadon jade 'cat and butterfly' group, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period, with its original imperial zitan stand

Acquired in France, 2010.

2010年購於法國

This charming carving depicts a cat and its endearing youngling nestled on a large, curled leaf, with the playful feline grasping a delicate butterfly in its mouth. The depiction of cat and butterfly together represents one of the most popular aupicious rebus in Chinese art; the Chinese word for cat (mao) is a homophone of the word 'octogenarian', while the word for butterfly (die) is a play on 'septuagenarian'. Thus, the combination of cat and butterfly (maodie) symbolises longevity and good health. This carving was likely presented as a birthday gift to an esteemed elder within the imperial court. It is particularly rare to find such carvings to be preserved with their original zitan stand, thoughtfully carved with Three Friends of Winter and sprigs of lingzhi, again symbolising longevity.