A YELLOW JADE 'DOUBLE CARP' GROUP18th/19th centuryMeticulously carved in the form of a fish-dragon and a smaller fish, emerging from tempestuous waves in an upright manner, their bodies naturalistically carved to simulate an even scaly texture, the translucent stone of a greenish tone with attractive russet streaks, stand and box.11.8cm (4 5/8in) high (3).Provenance: 十八/十九世紀 黃玉魚化龍擺件The dynamic carving captures the carp's moment of transformation from a fish into a dragon upon swimming tream in the Yellow River and leaping the rapids of the Dragon Gate. This theme was a popular pictorial subject as it is a metaphor for a scholar who passes the civil examinations and thus transforms into a high official.See a spinach-green jade example illustrated inTheplete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, pl.49.擺件所雕雙魚靈動自然，魚鱗、魚鰭及魚尾等處細緻入微。巧用褐皮增添自然立體之感，匠心獨運。更捕捉鯉躍龍門之精彩瞬間，寓意吉祥。見一碧玉雕雙魚擺件例，錄於《故宮博物院文物珍品大系：玉器（III）》，香港，1995年，圖版49。