A RARE PALE GREEN AND RUSSET JADE IMPERIALLY-INSCRIBED 'CHRYSANTHEMUM' MOONFLASK, BIANHUQianlong The vessel finely carved with a flattened circular shape supported on a rectangular foot, with a bulbuous neck flanked by a pair of arched leaf-scroll handles, decorated to the exterior with a large circular panel to each side framed by a leiwen border, one depicting blossoming chrysanthemums issuing from Taihu rocks, the reverse inscribed with an Imperial poem about chrysanthemums, the stone of pale green tone with some russet inclusions, box. 14cm (5 1/2in) high. (2). 清乾隆 青玉菊石圖御題詩文抱月小瓶 Provenance : an English private collection 來源 ：英國私人收藏 The poem inscribed on the present vessel is entitled 'Chrysanthemums, Imperially Inscribed'. It reads: 周書惟載有黃華， 後世侵尋五色誇。 自是椎輪生大輅， 濫觴寧獨傲霜花。 御製題菊 Which may be translated as: 'The book of Zhou only records the yellow flower, Later generations searched and boasted of the five colours. Naturally, the petals verticillate like a large carriage wheel, Originally it prefers tranquil solitude and scorns frost'. The poem is included in Qing Gaozong Yuzhi Shiwen Quanji ('Anthology of Imperial Qianlong poems and text', Yuzhi Shi San Ji ('Imperial poetry'), vol.3, vol.39, p.6. Chrysanthemums are one of the 'Four Gentlemen' flowers along with bamboo, orchid and prunus. They are also associated with a joyful retirement. They were the favourite flowers of Tao Qian, or Tao Yuanming (365-427), a poet living during a turbulent period in China who retired in midlife to a small estate to live out his days in rustic obscurity, drinking wine and writing poetry; see S.Nelson, 'Revisiting the Eastern Fence: Tao Qian's Chrysanthemums', The Art Bulletin , 2001, vol.83, no.3, pp.437-460. It is probable therefore, that the Qianlong emperor wrote this poem on chrysanthemums in his later years as his thoughts also turned to retirement.