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A RARE ‘BOYS AND GINSENG’ JADE GROUP, 17TH-18TH CENTURY
奥地利
2024年12月17日 开拍
拍品描述
A RARE ‘BOYS AND GINSENG’ JADE GROUP, 17TH-18TH CENTURY

China, possibly Imperial jade workshops of Suzhou, see corresponding remarks in the experts note below. Humorously carved as two boys pulling on the tendrils of a gigantic ginseng root under great strain belied by their facial expressions, dressed in loose robes, the plant well detailed with neatly incised lines and openworked tendrils. The translucent stone is of a fine white to pale celadon tone with cloudy white striations and few dark russet veins.

Provenance: European private collection, acquired in the Swiss art trade.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. The stone with minor natural inclusions and fissures, some of which have developed into thin hairlines.

Weight: 638.3 g
Dimensions: Length 18.5 cm

In traditional Chinese medicine, ginseng has been used for more than 2000 years and many peoples have considered it a cure for a wide range of ailments. Especially during the Qing dynasty, ginseng was of high value. The imperial court sent officials to supervise and manage the ginseng harvest and farmers were only allowed to dig for ginseng in the mountains with a permit issued by the ministry. The Qianlong Emperor, famous for his longevity, introduced wellbeing, sport, and health into his lifestyle to prolong his life and paid special attention to healthy tonics. One of Qianlong’s favorite ingredients was ginseng, which he ate every day.

One of the first written texts covering the use of ginseng as a medicinal herb was the Shennong Bencaojing, a Chinese book on agriculture and medicinal plants traditionally attributed to Emperor Shennong, the second of China's mythological emperors, a legendary ancient ruler in pre-dynastic times. Widely considered the father of Chinese medicine, he catalogued over 365 species of medicinal plants which he personally tasted. Ginseng was among of Shen Nung's contributions to herbal medicine. He experienced a warm and sexually pleasurable feeling after chewing the root. He advocated this as a treatment for erectile dysfunction and used it to stimulate sexual appetite. The reputation of ginseng as an aphrodisiac is based on the doctrine of signatures, since the adult root has a phallic shape. Shennong believed that ginseng's resemblance to the human form is proof of its rejuvenative and aphrodisiac properties. It was believed that the closer the similarity to the human figure, the more potent the root.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 13 December 2010, lot 5109
Price: USD 39,040 or approx. EUR 52,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A carved white jade ginseng and monkey group
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, manner of carving, and color of the jade. Note the larger size (27.5 cm).

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拍品估价:2,000 - 4,000 欧元 起拍价格:2,000 欧元  买家佣金: 35.00%

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