Qianlong mark, possibly 18th centuryFinely carved in openwork with pine tree branches and leaves and plum blossom encircling the body, with a Qianlong nianzhi four-character mark on the slightly recessed base, with trace of gilt, the stone of uneven green and russet tone with some inclusions and cloudy areas. 6in (15cm) long,转到 Chinese Works of Art Go
注脚:或為十八世紀 翠玉雕松梅紋水丞 《乾隆年製》款Provenance:Robert Bennet Forbes (by repute) and thence by Perkins Family descent來源：據藏家，Robert Bennet Forbes珍藏，後由Perkins家族珍藏The Forbes and Perkins families of Boston were famously active in the original China Trade. Robert Bennet Forbes (1804-1889) was a personal friend of Howqua (1769-1843) The Emperor appointed Howqua to oversee China's trading with Europeans. It is well-documented that Forbes and Howqua were close personal friends for the five years that he lived in Hong Kong at the end of Howqua's life (The Robert Bennett Forbes House, formally the China Trade Museum in Milton, Massachusetts, hold records of their business relationship). The family story goes that this brush-washer was given by Howqua to Forbes as a token of their friendship. There were apparently many gifts back and forth. The brush-washer itself is a tour-de-force of jadeite carving. Given that most jadeite is usually dated to the mid to late nineteenth century, it would be easy to dismiss this as a late example. However, if this were carved from a piece of white nephrite, it might be easily placed in the eighteenth century on quality of carving alone. It really is a cut above the normal output of late Qing jade production. The Qianlong seal mark engraved to the base, which may be a later addition, certainly fits stylistically with the high quality of the carving.