A PALE CELADON JADE FIGURE OF A DUCK, 18TH CENTURY China. Carved as a reclining duck, with its head turned backwards holding a millet sprig in its beak, the neatly incised wings spreading over the body, the tail curled upwards. The translucent stone is of an elegant pale celadon tone with icy inclusions and scattered dark specks.

Provenance: From an estate in Boston, USA.
Condition: Excellent condition with some old wear and minuscule nicks here and there. The stone with natural inclusions and fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks over time.

Weight: 103.3 g
Dimensions: Length 8.4 cm

Ducks in China symbolize conjugal bliss and fidelity. Grains, including corn, millet, and wheat, were regarded in Chinese culture as auspicious symbols of fertility and prosperity with their many seeds and kernels. The depiction of ducks grasping millet stalks in their beaks thus represents a happy marriage with the blessings of many children.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 28 July 2009, lot 1104
Price: USD 13,420 or approx. EUR 17,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A white jade carving of a duck, 18th century
Expert remarks: Compare the related pose of the duck with turned head and the finely incised feathers. Note the size (12 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's London, 10 May 2017, lot 66
Price: GBP 7,500 or approx. EUR 9,800 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A white jade 'duck and lotus' carving, Qing dynasty, 18th century
Expert remarks: Compare the closely related pose of the duck with turned head, the color of the jade, and the finely incised feathers.


十八世紀青玉鴨戲擺件
中國。玉雕臥鴨，頭向後仰，嘴叼著黍米束，雙翅鋪展在身上，尾巴向上捲曲。半透明的玉料呈現出優雅的淡青色調，帶有冰色絮狀物和散落的黑色斑點。

來源：美國波斯頓私人收藏。
品相：狀況極佳，有磨損和微小刻痕。具有天然紋理和裂縫的玉料，其中一些可能隨著時間的推移發展成細小的裂紋。

重量：103.3 克
尺寸：長 8.4 厘米

鴨子或鴛鴦在中國象徵著婚姻幸福和忠誠。穀物，包括玉米、黍米和小麥，因爲其種子和籽粒眾多，在中國文化中被視為生育和繁榮的吉祥象徵。鴨子嘴裡叼著嘴叼著黍米束，代表著幸福的婚姻，多子多孫祝福。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：舊金山邦瀚斯，2009年7月28日，lot 1104
價格：USD 13,420（相當於今日EUR 17,500）
描述：十八世紀白玉鴨戲擺件
專家評論：比較相近的頭後仰姿勢和精雕的羽毛。請注意玉石大小 (12 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：倫敦蘇富比，2017年5月10日，lot 66
價格：GBP 7,500（相當於今日EUR 9,800）
描述：十八世紀清代白玉鴨戲蓮花擺件
專家評論：比較相近的頭後仰姿勢、玉石的顏色和精雕的羽毛。