A CHINESE GREY JADE 'THREE FRIENDS OF WINTER' VASE

A CHINESE GREY JADE 'THREE FRIENDS OF WINTER' VASE
18TH CENTURY

Formed as a section of the trunk of a hollowed pine tree, finely detailed with knots and scales to the wood, the exterior pierced and carved in high relief with gnarled branches of pine, prunus and bamboo, the base incised with tree rings, with speckles and natural pale areas in the dark stone, 15.9cm.

Provenance: formerly the collection of Hugh S Whitaker; and then the Lawrence Collection of jades and hardstone carvings, purchased from Spink & Son prior to 1959.

Whitaker was a collector of Oriental art in the early 20th century, and many items from his collection are now in major western museums, including the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum. Whitaker is recorded in the Sparks' ledger books between 1914 and 1938 as a buyer.

Cf. Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum, Jade, vol.8, p.227, no.186 for a comparable black and pale celadon jade vase carved with a phoenix amidst bamboo and lingzhi.

Pine, prunus and bamboo together are collectively called the 'Three Friends of Winter', or Suihan sanyou. As these three plants are particularly durable in winter, they have long been admired for their natural ability to withstand and even thrive in adversity. Objects bearing these motifs are often made for someone considered to be a valued friend. The origin of this notion is found in literature as early as the Song dynasty. Pine, bamboo and prunus were the favourite plants for any scholar's residence. In Chinese thought, the pine is always green and upright, symbolising a gentleman who stands for his principles. As for bamboo, whilst it may not be as imposing or as sturdy as the pine, it too remains mostly green through the winter. Moreover, the stalk of the bamboo is hollow, and has come to symbolise tolerance and open-mindedness. The flexibility and strength of bamboo also represents cultivation and integrity in which one may yield but not break. Prunus is renowned for its gnarled hardiness during winter that bursts into fragile blossom at the first breath of spring. The fragrance of the prunus also serves as a reminder of a person's inner beauty.

十八世紀 灰白玉雕歲寒三友瓶

來源：Hugh S Whitaker舊藏，勞倫斯珍藏玉石，1959年前購於Spink & Son。