China. Of rectangular form, each plaque neatly carved and incised with one half of a connected mountain and river landscape, depicting a pavilion, rocks, a traveler crossing a bridge, and a scholar resting near a cliff while appreciating the landscape. The reverse of each plaque carved in relief with a poem and signed. The reticulated top with confronting kui dragons, pierced at the center for suspension. A yellow string with small pearls and coral beads attached. The translucent stone of a fine and even pale celadon tone. (2)

Inscriptions: Each plaque signed ‘Wen Zhen’ to the reverse. This artist signature could also be translated as ‘scholarly treasure’. Each plaque is further inscribed with one half of a poem, beginning with the right plaque, ‘The clear water mirrors the shadows of the trees, one can see the mountain landscape through the wall. The autumnal trees have yellow leaves and are shrouded in the light of the setting sun,’ and continuing on the left plaque, ‘The bamboo and chrysanthemums in the garden are only here for me. Slowly the new moon shows itself, I will stay in this garden for a while.’

Provenance: British trade.
Condition: Very good condition with expected old wear, few minuscule nibbles here and there. Microscopic natural inclusions to the stone.

Weight: 50.9 g and 47.7 g
Dimensions: Size 5.9 x 4.2 cm (each)

Expert’s note: It is extremely rare to find a pair of jade plaques carved with a continuous landscape such as the present lot, with no comparable examples found by this author. Jade plaques of this type are usually either crafted as a single piece or as pairs showing the same depiction, sometimes in mirror image.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 5 June 2020, lot 685
Price: HKD 100,000 or approx. EUR 12,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A white jade plaque, Qing dynasty, 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the related form, reticulated top, color of the jade, beads and cord, and size (5.9 cm). Note the color of the jade is described as white in the title, but of a more celadon tone, as can be seen in the photo. Note also that the lot comprises only one plaque.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s London, 8 November 2013, lot 1307
Price: GBP 13,750 or approx. EUR 20,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pair of pale celadon jade rectangular plaques, 19^th century
Expert remark: Note that while this lot also comprises a pair of jade plaques, the depiction is not continuous as on the present pair of jade plaques, but mirrored instead, which is decidedly more common.

Expert’s note (added 28.2.2023): Please note that additional information about this lot is available for download by clicking here.




十八至十九世紀一對罕見連綿山水玉牌
中國。長方玉牌，每一塊玉牌一面雕刻山水景觀與人物，另一面浮雕一首詩。兩塊山水牌放在一起，可以發現兩邊山水相連。玉牌頂部雙龍紋，中央穿孔懸掛。一條黃色的繩子，上面繫著小珍珠和珊瑚珠。玉料成青白色半透明，細膩瑩潤。

款識：1. 水影動深樹，山光窺短墻。秋邨黃葉滿，一半入斜陽。2. 幽竹入人靜，寒花爲我芳。小園宜小立，新月似新霜。鈴印：文珍

來源：英國古玩交易。
品相：狀況極好，有磨損，大面積細小的刻痕。玉料内有絮狀物。

重量：50.9 克與47.7 克
尺寸：5.9 x 4.2 厘米

專家注釋：像本拍品這樣的山水牌，實屬難得一見，筆者亦無可比之例。這類山水牌通常有可能製作成單件，或是製作成對，顯示相同的圖案，有時是鏡像，有時相連。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2020年6月5日，lot 685
價格：HKD 100,000（相當於今日EUR 12,500）
描述：清十八世紀白玉米芾拜石題字牌 《子岡》仿款
專家評論：比較相近的外形，頂部鏤空雕刻、玉石顏色、小珠和珊瑚珠，以及尺寸(5.9 厘米)。請注意此玉石顏色被描述為白色，但照片上看起來更像青色。請注意此玉為一件。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦佳士得，2013年11月8日，lot 1307
價格：GBP 13,750（相當於今日EUR 20,500）
描述：十九世紀一對青白玉牌
專家評論：請注意此對玉牌上雕刻的場景並非連續，而是鏡像。