A SPINACH-GREEN JADE RETICULATED MUSICAL STONE SUSPENDING A DOUBLE-FISH PENDANT

Qianlong/Jiaqing

Qianlong/Jiaqing
The upper pendant finely pierced as a chime surrounded by floral scrolls and above twin confronted fish, suspending a smaller double-fish pendant from a chain, the stone of dark-green tone with black speckles, all suspended from a later carved openwork hongmu stand. The large plaque 10.1cm (4in) wide; the stand 34.5cm (13 1/2in) high. (3).

清乾隆/嘉慶 碧玉吉慶有餘磬

Provenance:
Spink & Son Ltd., London,
E. A. Parry (1879-1946), London, acquired from the above on 30 September 1923, and thence by descent

來源：
倫敦古董商Spink & Son Ltd.
倫敦E. A. Parry（1879-1946）舊藏，於1923年9月30日購自上者，並由後人保存迄今

Meticulously carved with intricate reticulated designs, the present lot underscores powerful auspicious symbolism related to the social values of the time. The pendant is shaped as a chime, an important musical instrument employed since at least the Eastern Zhou period, and highly regarded for the mysterious reverberating unearthly sound it produced.

The archaic origins and moral purpose of chimes would have greatly appealed to the Qianlong Emperor, who placed much emphasis on high moral behaviour which he advocated through the restoration of ancient ways. Archaism was part of a larger scholarly trend stemming from a renewed interest in ancient texts. The Emperor is recorded to have exhorted his Court and craftsmen to look to China's archaic past for moral guidance and artistic inspiration, and the Xiqing gujian (Catalogue of the Xiqing Antiquities) provided abundant prototypes for the recreation of archaistic pieces. The Qing Court Collection includes a number of jade chimes in various forms, Qing dynasty, illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade 8 Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2010, nos.127-139.

One of the Eight Buddhist Emblems, the double-fish motif symbolises freedom from restraint as well as the wish for marital bliss, prosperity and an abundance of good luck. Because fish are reputed to swim in pairs and are known for their reproductive power, the double-fish stands for the joys of union and numerous offspring.

A related pale green suspended jade chime, 18th/19th century, was sold at Christie's London, 16 May 2014, lot 1208.

碧玉質，主體透雕懸磬及雙魚，其下又墜以相對的玉魚，寓意吉慶有餘。磬為古代石製打擊樂器，最早用於樂舞活動，後用於歷代帝王及統治階層的殿堂宴享、宗宙祭祀、朝聘禮儀活動中的樂隊演奏，並成為像徵其身份地位的禮器。

宋明以來，復禮之思潮盛行，文人熱衷於通過古器物考證古代的典章制度且以好古來增添文房清趣，這種好古的傳統至乾隆時期盛極一時。乾隆皇帝深受漢文化熏陶，全盤接受文人倡導的古典主義，認為追慕古風可以修養德行。其更是諭令將內府庋藏的青銅器分門別類，薈輯成《西清古鑑》，並令工匠將這些古器物的圖錄作為新制玉器時造型、紋飾的樣本。參考清宮舊藏數例清代玉磬，收錄於《故宮博物院藏品大系：玉器編8，清》，北京，2010年，編號127-139。

雙魚為佛教八寶之一。「魚」與「餘」同音，寓意祥瑞，為吉慶之象徵；且因魚的旺盛繁殖力，有子嗣興旺的寄意。

倫敦佳士得曾於2014年5月16日售出一例十八/十九世紀白玉雕磬，拍品編號1208，可資比對。