A CHINESE PALE CELADON JADE CARVING OF POMEGRANATES

A CHINESE PALE CELADON JADE CARVING OF POMEGRANATES
QIANLONG 1736-95

Formed as two fruits issuing from a branch, with the leaves trailing over their bodies, the larger pomegranate with a section of its skin peeled revealing its many seeds, each fruit carved with a finely defined calyx, with minor white and russet markings in the stone, together with a reticulated wood stand, 7.7cm. (2)

The pomegranate is an auspicious motif in China as it is a symbol of fertility and abundance because of its many seeds. Pomegranates are often depicted, as on this carving, with some of their skin peeled back showing the numerous seeds inside. This image forms the rebus liu kai bai zi, or 'the pomegranate opens revealing one hundred sons', and thus conveys the wish of producing many offspring.

Cf. Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum, Jade, vol.9, p.172, no.162 for a related white jade pomegranate carving; see also Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8th April 2013, lot 3221 and Sotheby's London, 17th May 2019, lot 252 for two similar smaller carvings also formed as two pomegranates; see also Christie's Hong Kong, 29th May 2013, lot 1945 for a comparable example formed as a single fruit.

清乾隆 青白玉雕榴開百子擺件