CHINA - 18th/19th century - Lot 125

CHINA - 18th/19th century Spinach-green jade (nephrite) wedding bowl, the center with relief-carved decoration of peonies, lingzhi and nandina, the handles in the form of butterflies supporting rings, the exterior carved with lotuses in their foliage. (Natural vein). L. 34 cm The nandina (nandina domestica) is a popular winter plant, as it is an evergreen with beautiful red fruits. From a distance, nandina resembles bamboo, hence its name "celestial bamboo" (tianzhu). Nandina is often used in New Year and birthday greetings. Associated with the lingzhi mushroom, the wish becomes: "May the mushroom of immortality give you longevity (zhixian zhushou)". The butterfly is a symbol of joy and marriage, and by homophony the symbol of longevity as it can be pronounced as "aged from seventy to eighty". Associated with the peony, the wish becomes: "May you find longevity, wealth and honor (fugui maodie)".