A GREEN JADE ‘CARP’ VASE, QING DYNASTY China, 18^th – 19^th century. Vividly carved as a carp leaping from crashing waves, depicted with a large gaping mouth open to form the cavity of the vase, the fins and scales finely detailed and incised, with an elegantly curled tail. The translucent stone of an even, dark green tone with pale green clouding and scattered veins.

Provenance: From a private collection in Southern Florida, USA.
Condition: Very good condition. The stone with natural fissures, some of which have developed into small hairline cracks over time. A minuscule chip to the back fin. Tiny nicks here and there. With a good, unctuous feel overall.

Weight: 655 g
Dimensions: Height 15.24 cm, Width 10.1 cm

According to traditional Chinese belief, carp swimming upstream in the Yellow River must leap the rapids of the Dragon's Gate. The first to succeed in doing this is transformed into a dragon. This legend is frequently used and regarded as a metaphor for a poor scholar who passes the civil service examinations and succeeds in high office. The dragon-carp motif is thus a wish for success in achieving this.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related carp vase, dated to the Qing dynasty, 16 cm, at Sotheby’s London in Fine Chinese Jades from the Thompson-Schwabb Collection on 9 November 2016, Lot 9, sold for GBP 15,000.

清代玉雕鯉魚瓶
中國，十八至十九世紀。雕刻生動的鯉魚從洶湧的海浪中躍出，大口張開形成瓶口，鰭和鱗片雕刻細緻，尾巴外翹。半透明的玉料，均勻的深綠色調，帶有淡綠色的絮狀物和分散的紋理。

來源：美國南弗羅里達私人收藏。
品相：狀況極好，天然裂縫隨著時間的推移，其中一些已經發展成細小的細縫。後鰭有一個微小的磕損。很多小刻痕。 包漿整體感覺良好光潤。

重量：655克
尺寸：高15.24 厘米，寬 10.1 厘米

拍賣結果比較: 比較一件相近的清代鯉魚瓶，16 厘米，見倫敦蘇富比Fine Chinese Jades from the Thompson-Schwabb Collection 2016年11月9日 Lot 9, 售價GBP 15,000。