A FINE JADEITE ‘LAN CAIHE’ PENDANT, LATER QING TO EARLIER REPUBLIC China, 1850-1930. The plaque of circular form, flanked by two dragon masks suspending neatly carved mock rings, below a bow-tied ribbon, finely incised in relief to one side with Lan Caihe wearing loose-fitting robes and carrying a basket in one hand and a flower borne on a leafy stem in the other, walking along swirling clouds with a joyful smile on the face, and to the other with a central Ji (‘luck’) character flanked by two bats and surrounded by ruyi symbols above similar swirling clouds, each enclosed by a dotted border.

Provenance: From a Scottish private collection.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Fine surface polish with an elegant luster.

Weight: 41.3 g
Dimensions: Size 5.4 x 5.3 cm

The translucent jade is of a white tone with a light lavender tinge and a small patch of apple-green color at the top, where it is pierced for suspension. Further openworked areas allowing for suspension as well.

Lan Caihe is one of the Eight Immortals in the Daoist pantheon and the only one of the Eight whose gender is ambiguous. Lan is not generally thought to be based on a historical person but is traditionally said to have been born sometime during the Tang dynasty, and lived as a homeless street entertainer, who wandered all over China, singing philosophical songs. Lan’s emblem is a basket of flowers, and so this immortal is considered the patron of florists and gardeners.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related circular plaque depicting the Hehe Erxian, dated to the 19^th century, at Bonhams San Francisco in Fine Chinese Works of Art on 17 December 2013, lot 8035, sold for USD 11,250. Compare also a jade plaque depicting Lan Caihe and Li Tieguai, dated 18^th-19^th century, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in Important Jades, Ambers And Hardstones From A Distinguished Connoisseur on 3 October 2018, lot 3358, sold for HKD 150,000-200,000.

清末民初藍采和翡翠佩飾
中國，1850-1930年。扁圓形佩飾，左右兩有瑞獸輔耳，上方雕刻著蝴蝶結緞帶；一面浮雕藍采和一手提籃，另一隻手持一枝樹枝，脚踩祥雲，面露笑容；而另一面中央兩隻蝙蝠相對，中間一個“吉”字，上方有一朵如意雲紋。

來源：蘇格蘭私人收藏。
品相：狀況極好，輕微磨損。表面光滑細膩，光澤優雅。

重量：41.3 克
尺寸：5.4 x 5.3 厘米

拍賣結果比較：比較一件十九世紀的和合二仙玉佩，見舊金山邦翰思Fine Chinese Works of Art 2013年12月17日lot 8035, 售價USD 11,250；一件十八世紀至十九世紀藍采和與鐵拐李玉佩，見香港蘇富比Important Jades, Ambers And Hardstones From A Distinguished Connoisseur 2018年10月3日 lot 3358, 售價HKD 150,000-200,000。