A RETICULATED WHITE JADE RUYI IN THE FORM OF A... Lot n° 170

A RETICULATED WHITE JADE RUYI IN THE FORM OF A LINGZHI WITH BATS, QING DYNASTY China, 1644-1912. Finely carved in openwork, the flattened ruyi in the form of a large lingzhi with several smaller lingzhi sprouts issuing from the curving shaft. Two bats depicted mid-flight, their wings outspread, swooping over the smaller sprouts. The translucent jade has a white hue with pale-russet shadings, small russet inclusions, and icy veining. Provenance: From the private collection of Douglas Bucher, New York. Douglas Gregg Bucher (1947-2023) was an architect who specialized in the restoration of historic buildings. He developed a passion for art history and began collecting Chinese jades and porcelain in the 1980s. He served on the board of the Hart Cluett Museum and his collection was sold for the benefit of the museum after his passing. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, minuscule nibbling to edges, and a small nick to one bat’s wing. The jade with natural fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks. Weight: 173.6 g Dimensions: Length 24 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 28 May 2010, lot 289 Estimate: HKD 50,000 or approx. EUR 8,600 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A white jade ruyi Expert remark: Compare the closely related flatted form and the openwork faced along the shaft of the lingzhi-shape ruyi. Note the larger size (37 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 15 March 2011, lot 2107 Price: USD 12,200 or approx. EUR 16,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A carved white and russet jade ruyi scepter Expert remark: Compare the related subject and color. Note the different form. Note the larger size (30 cm).