Ming Dynasty Each carved in openwork with two egrets playing amidst scrolling lotus, the stone of white colour and with some light russet, box. The largest 6cm (2 3/8in) wide. (12).Footnotes明 白玉鏤空路路連科帶板一組 Provenance: An Asian private collection 來源： 亞洲私人收藏 The word for egret, lu is a homophone for the word for 'path' or 'road', while the lotus, lian, and its seeds, ke form the compound lianke, which is a pun for 'continually pass your examinations'. Taken together the various elements in the motif take on the meaning 'may you continually pass your examinations all the way', lulu lianke. See a related grey and russet jade 'deer and egret' reticulated plaque, which was sold at Bonhams London, 2 November 2021, lot 229. 鷺代表「路路」，蓮花枝葉則表示「連科」，合起來則成諧音「路路連科」的主題。此玉將圓雕及淺浮雕技法結合使用，雕琢自然，風格古樸，為明代文房陳設精品。參看倫敦邦瀚斯曾售出一件元代灰白玉雕玉鏤雕鹿鶴同春紋牌，2021年11月2日，拍品編號229。