A CHINESE PALE CELADON JADE 'RUYI-HEAD' BRUSH WASHER

QIANLONG 1736-95

Carved as the head of a lingzhi, the sides and base incised with simple scrolls, with an incised ridge to the flat rim, all raised on five slightly splayed feet, the base with a paper label for Marchant, Jade 2015, 90th Anniversary Exhibition, no.1, together with a wood stand, 10.8cm. (2)

Provenance: formerly an important French collection.

Illustrated: Marchant, 90th Anniversary Exhibition, Ninety Jades for 90 Years, pp.8-9, no.1.

The lingzhi, also known as the Fungus of Immortality, resembles the head of a ceremonial wish-granting sceptre called a ruyi, which means 'as you wish'.

Cf. Ip Yee, Chinese Jade Carving, An Exhibition Jointly Presented by the Urban Council, Hong Kong and the Min Chiu Society, Organised by the Hong Kong Museum of Art, pp.254-255, no.228 for a related ruyi-form brush washer.