A pale green jade carving of three geese


18th centuryCrisply carved with a large goose and two smaller goslings with finely-worked feathers swimming above meticulously-incised crested waves, the larger goose clasping a spray of leafy millet in its beak, the smaller goose behind clasping the same sprig, the stone of pale greyish-green tone. 12.1cm (4 3/4in) long.
|十八世紀 青白玉雕寶鵝獻瑞The wild goose was believed to mate for life, and thus became a popular symbol to express the desire for marital fidelity, peace and prosperity. Also recognised for its military tactics including flight formation, the goose was considered appropriate to identify fourth-rank officials in Imperial China. Compare with a similar jade carving of geese, illustrated by G.Savage, Chinese Jade: A Concise Introduction, New York, 1964, pl.18b; and another jade carving of geese illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Small Refined Articles of the Study, Shenzhen, 2009, p.119, no.87.