98 ROGER KEVERNE <strong>WINTER</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
77 A fine jade group of monkeys 18th century Height: 2G in, 6 cm the seated adult holds a leafy peach in its right hand, and scratches its head with its left; the young monkey reaches up to grasp the fruit. Both animals have incised hair either side of their spines, short, puffy tails, and well-defined faces. The semi-translucent stone is an even white tone with a fine polish. Formerly in a European private collection. This group forms the rebus Linghou xianshou (a wish for longevity). In the Ming dynasty novel Xiyou Ji (The Journey to the West), the Monkey, Sun Wukong, is placed in charge of the Garden of Immortal Peaches: however, he not only eats the ripe peaches but also goes on to disrupt the Queen Mother of the West’s Peach Festival, held once every 3000 years. For similar examples, see Burkart-Bauer, Chinesische Jaden aus drei Jahrtausenden, no. 198, pp. 129–30; and Jiang and Lin, Jades from the Hei-Chi Collection, p. 195. 78 A fine jade figure of a three-legged toad 17th–18th centuries Length: 2D in, 5.7 cm the animal has large eyes, bumpy skin and a notched spine. Below its wide mouth is a group of clouds from which a small moon emerges. The pale celadon-green semitranslucent stone has areas of russet skin remaining and bears a soft polish. Formerly in a European private collection. The three-legged toad is the emblem of the god of wealth, Liu Hai, and therefore represents riches. The animal is also associated with the moon, as some legends state that Chang’e, the moon goddess, metamorphosed into a toad. For similar examples, see Ip, Chinese Jade Carving, no. 184, pp. 202–03; Jiang and Lin, Jades from the Hei-Chi Collection, p. 196; <strong>Keverne</strong>, Jade, fig. 92, p. 164; and Watt, Chinese Jades from Han to Ch’ing, no. 59, p. 77. 79 An unusual jade group of a camel and dog 17th–18th centuries Length: 1P in, 4.8 cm the two animals lie head to tail and grasp a large spray of open lingzhi fungus in their mouths. The camel has two humps, lightly incised to simulate fur, a short neck and another small, incised hump on its head. The dog has scrolling ears and deeply incised lines to its body, indicating ribs. The camel’s legs and cloven hooves and the dog’s legs and paws are worked in relief to the underside. The stone is a variegated grey and charcoal tone. This seems to be a very rare subject, but for a related larger example, see Zhang, Jadeware (II): The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, no. 151, p. 190. 80 A jade group of badgers 17th–18th centuries Length: 2B in, 5.5 cm the two animals lie curled about each other, forming an approximate circle with a square hole in the centre. The badgers have pointed faces, incised eyes, large ears and bushy tails, and their legs are lightly incised to simulate fur. The stone varies in tone from grey through to charcoal. Badgers are popular subjects in Chinese art and represent conjugal joy. For a related example, see Fung and Yeung, Exquisite Jade Carving, no. 107, p. 131. ROGER KEVERNE <strong>WINTER</strong> <strong>2008</strong> 99