A CHINESE SPINACH-GREEN JADE 'SEVEN SAGES' BRUSH POT, BITONG Qing Dynasty, 18th Century 清十八世紀 碧玉竹林七賢筆筒 Of cylindrical form raised atop four short, curved feet, the exterior carved in relief to depict the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, with four of the wise men in discussion gathered around a handscroll as two curious boys look on, another group of sages in a rocky grove playing a game of weiqi, the landscape dotted with trails of clouds swirling around bamboo, gnarled pine trees and jagged rocky outcrops, the stone of a rich spinach-green tone streaked with dark inclusions and scattered russet-coloured flecks, 16cm high, 13.4cm diameter - PROVENANCE: Previously in the Collection of Roger Meffreys (1899-1976), French Ambassador to China between 1936 and 1946; Private Collection, France Roger Meffreys (1899-1976) was a French diplomat stationed as General Consul in Shanghai from the late 1930s, and subsequently served as the top-ranking French diplomat in China whilst in Beijing until 1946.