A Chinese Jade Boulder

Of irregular flattened mountain form, carved in various levels of relief, depicting on one face a sage standing with a donkey, set amid mountainous landscape with an overhanging old tree, the reverse worked through the russet skin in low relief with the cragged mountains, the stone of an even celadon tone with russet veining. Period: 20th century. Height: 24.5 cm.

These mountains, boldly and irregularly carved with rocky paths, pine trees and vegetation, are often inhabited by tiny figures, giving the concept of ’landscape in miniature.’ These boulders depicting scholars or immortals ascending a path were popular during the Qianlong period, as they symbolised the ascending career of the scholar-literati within the civil service. They also serve as vehicles for the scholar and connoisseur to be transported to their imaginary, distant realms.

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