A white jade rectangular 'scholar' plaque

Qing Dynasty

Qing Dynasty
Both sides carved in low relief within a archaistic double-chi-dragon frame, one side depicting a scholar walking towards to a pavilion by a pond of lotus and followed by a young attendant, the reverse decorated with a poem by Wang Anshi ( 1021-1086) and inscribed Zigang, the stone of pure white tone.
6.1cm (2 3/8in) high

清 白玉訪友詩文牌

'Scholars visiting friends in a landscape' was a popular theme in Chinese art, which typifies a cloistered life far away from the centre of power. The poem on the reverse was by the famous poet and politician of the Northern Song Dynasty, Wang Anshi, who depicts a peaceful scene after overnight rain in the capital where people were singing in the field during a bumper season.

白玉質，白潤通透，淺浮雕雙夔龍紋邊框，一面減地淺浮雕一高士與一童僕訪友，高士手指一荷塘中高閣，格內桌案文具儼然，另一面見底浮雕刻行草王安石《秋興有感》詩句：「 宿雨清畿甸，朝陽麗帝城。豐年人樂業，隴上踏歌聲。」落款「子岡」。

高士訪友為明清藝術常見題材，多在山水之間，寓意林泉之樂。