A grey and russet jade 'deer and egret' reticulated plaque

Yuan Dynasty

Yuan Dynasty
The oval plaque exquisitely cared and pierced with elaborate foliage and trees issuing auspicious lingzhi fungus, a parrot perched high above a deer and egret, the stone of warm beige tone with some russet inclusions. 9.8cm (3 7/8in) wide.

元 青灰玉鏤雕鹿鶴同春紋牌

Provenance: A UK private collection

來源：英國私人收藏

The word for deer, lu, is a homophone for emoluments, while the word for juniper is bai, which sounds like the word for hundred. Put together, they form the phrase bai lu, 'One hundred emoluments', thereby wishing that 'Heaven grant the owner one hundred emoluments', Shou tian bai lu.

See a related white jade belt ornament with design of crane and deer, Song dynasty, illustrated in the Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade, 5, Beijing, 2011, p.175, no.191.