A CHINESE PALE CELADON JADE CIRCULAR 'CATFISH' PENDANT

A CHINESE PALE CELADON JADE CIRCULAR 'CATFISH' PENDANT

18TH CENTURY

Carved in openwork as two swimming catfish with a sprig of lingzhi between them, the fish detailed with their prominent whiskers, with a further leafy branch to the underside, the stone with some minor pale inclusions, set with a metal loop for suspension, 5.4cm.

Provenance: from the Fryers Collection of Chinese Art. See Fine Chinese Paintings & Works of Art, 10th November 2020, lots 14-17 for more pieces from this collection.

Dr Gordon Fryers (1922-2008) and Dr Rosemary Fryers (1922-1994) moved to Singapore in 1946 after they had both qualified as doctors, and their time there introduced them to Chinese art and culture. However, the Fryers did not start collecting seriously until the 1960s when Gordon's experiences on his many international business trips rightly led him to believe that China would one day play a crucial role in the world economy and that its art would subsequently become highly desirable. With this remarkable foresight in seeing Chinese art as an investment opportunity, Gordon and Rosemary gradually built up their collection over a fifteen-year period in the 1960s and 70s, buying from leading auction houses and dealers. Albeit a clever financial move, Gordon and Rosemary's collecting was by no means without passion, and they both developed a keen interest in the subject. Whilst Rosemary was drawn to ceramics and various works of art, Gordon favoured jades and marvelled at the outstanding craftsmanship behind these pieces.