China, 18^th-19^th century. The stone carved in the form of a qin, a weiqi (go) board, a brush pot, a gnarled prunus branch, and billowing ribbons, symbolizing the 'Four Scholarly Pursuits' (siyi). The translucent stone of a pale yellow color with areas of russet and cloudy white inclusions.

Provenance: London, United Kingdom trade.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and minuscule nibbling.

Weight: 45.5 g
Dimensions: Length 4.9 cm

The four arts (siyi), or the four essential arts of the Chinese scholar, were the four main academic and artistic talents required of the aristocratic ancient Chinese scholar-gentleman. They were the mastery of the qin (the guqin, a stringed instrument), weiqi (the strategy game of Go), shu (Chinese calligraphy) and hua (Chinese painting).

Every scholar in Imperial China was expected to play the seven-stringed zither or qin. The board game of weiqi was considered equally a pastime and an art form. Chinese calligraphy was highly regarded as an expression of the practitioner's poetic nature and a significant test of manual dexterity. It comprises a minimalist set of rules which facilitates a system of complexity and grandeur. Finally, every scholar was expected to learn the art of brush painting, which was regarded as the greatest expression of individual creativity, through which one could demonstrate his mastery over the art of line.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 30 November 2017, lot 717
Price: HKD 100,000 or approx. EUR 13,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pale celadon jade 'four scholarly accomplishments' group, Qing dynasty

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s London, 8 November 2011, lot 172
Price: GBP 43,250 or approx. EUR 65,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A celadon jade pendant, 18^th century



清代白玉雕四藝擺件
中國，十八至十九世紀。玉石雕刻琴、圍棋盤、筆筒和梅枝，象徵著“四藝”。半透明的淡黃色玉石，帶有赤褐色絮狀内沁。

來源：英國倫敦古玩交易市場。
品相：狀況極好，有些微磨損和輕微的刻痕。

重量：45.5 克
尺寸：長4.9 厘米

四藝，通常指中國文人所推崇和要掌握的四門藝術，即琴、棋、書、畫， 又稱為“文人四藝”，他們是文人消遣並體現自身修養的四種藝術形式。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2017年11月30日，lot 717
價格：HKD 100,000（相當於今日EUR 13,000）
描述：清代青白玉四藝擺件

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦佳士得，2011年11月8日，lot 172
價格：GBP 43,250（相當於今日EUR 65,500）
描述：十八世紀青玉擺件

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