A fine Chinese white jade carving of a monkey Qianlong 1736-95

A fine Chinese white jade carving of a monkey Qianlong 1736-95, kneeling and holding a large peach in his hands, facing forward with a knitted brow and his hair defined along his spine, 6.5cm. Provenance: an English private collection. The monkey (hou) is an important Chinese symbol, its name being a pun for a high-ranking official. The monkey offering a peach (shoutao) is a sacred symbol of longevity. Cf. The Avery Brundage Collection, for a related green nephrite example.