Asaph Hyman
Global Head of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
Another Property
Lot 38
A rare yellow jade carving of a finger citron 18th century
11 November 2010, 10:30 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £12,000 inc. premium
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A rare yellow jade carving of a finger citron
18th century
The citrus fruit well carved with naturalistic 'fingers' curling at their end, borne on a gnarled stalk with further branches bearing peach and a split pomegranate revealing its seeds, with two monkeys clambering on the side of the fruit holding onto a large leaf and the peach, the stone of yellow-greenish tone with brown-honey and cloud-white inclusions.
16.5cm (6½in) long
The citrus fruit well carved with naturalistic 'fingers' curling at their end, borne on a gnarled stalk with further branches bearing peach and a split pomegranate revealing its seeds, with two monkeys clambering on the side of the fruit holding onto a large leaf and the peach, the stone of yellow-greenish tone with brown-honey and cloud-white inclusions.
16.5cm (6½in) long
Footnotes
The finger citron, peach and pomegranate yellow jade group represents the sanduo, known as The Three Abundances. The citron's long segments resemble Buddha's hand position in meditation, and also symbolises happiness and longevity as well as prosperity; the peach represents longevity; and the pomegranate with the split body revealing the numerous seeds symbolises progeny. Brought together, the sanduo represent the wish for 'long life, descendants and prosperity'. The monkey, one of the Zodiac animals, is associated with longevity through the legend of the Monkey King, most famous for stealing the peaches of Immortality. A monkey clutching a peach as may be seen on the present carving, feng hou bao shou, is a rebus for 'May you become a salaried official and embrace longevity'.
Compare a related yellow jade carving of a finger citron in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, pl.52.
