PLEASE NOTE: There is a $15,000 authorization required to bid on this lot. NO ONLINE BIDDING ACCEPTED, bidders MUST register with the auction house to bid on this lot. A Chinese jade statuette of Shou dating from the Qianlong period with a wooden stand inlaid with silver wire. Shou is holding a peach and accompanied by a crane who holds a branch of peaches. The jade has been painted with a false skin, which was an accepted practice during the time period. Dimensions are: 7 1/4 inches tall X 3 inches wide X 1 1/2 inches deep, 18.42 cm X 7.62 cm X 3.81 cm. All measurements are approximate. Condition: The jade is in good condition, the stand's wire inlay is missing or loose in areas. A reminder that all lots are sold as-is. We have sought to record the changes in the condition of this piece after its initial manufacture as diligently as possible; however, as stated in our terms, condition reports are statements of opinion and not representations or warranties. Oakridge Auction Gallery bears no responsibility for any error or omission. Provenance: From a private Atlanta, Georgia collection. Notes: The deity Shou is believed to control the life spans of mortals. According to legend, he was carried in his mother's womb for ten years, and when he was born, he was already an elderly man. In art, he is recognized by his high, domed forehead and the peach which he carries as a symbol of immortality. The prevalence of Shou in Chinese art speaks to the popularity of the concept of immortality. Emperors especially were concerned with their legacy and immortal status; as the "Sons of Heaven," they justified their claims to rule through connections to the divine, yet they lacked the immortality that all divinities shared. They sought ways to attain it, with some even becoming desperate enough to consume toxic "immortality elixirs" meant to extend their lives, but ultimately and ironically killing them. From the first emperor Qin Shi Huang in 210 BC to the Yongzheng Emperor in 1735, countless emperors and nobles fell prey to their fear of mortality and to the guiles of so-called alchemists peddling these dangerous elixirs, proving the all-consuming preoccupation of the subject.This carving clearly invokes this ideal of longevity. The main subject is Shou, wearing long robes that drape towards the ground. His facial hair is nearly as long, symbolizing his advanced age. While other depictions of Shou throughout Chinese art often show the old man hunched over and supporting himself with a staff, this bright jade carving foregoes the staff and illustrates the god as standing fully upright instead; perhaps rather than just emphasize Shou's age alone, the carver wanted to highlight the vigor granted by the god's immortality. The visual effect of the long robes and facial hair further serve to elongate Shou in this carving, again highlighting the god's vitality. The same could be said of the crane which stands beside him; its tall legs, neck, and beak contribute to the length and verticality of the carving. Cranes have long been auspicious symbols of immortality in Chinese art, making this crane a logical addition to this carving.Interestingly, both the crane and Shou himself hold peaches. The roundness of the peaches here visually contrast the linear verticality of the carving as described above. At the same time, they mirror the fullness of Shou's iconic forehead. The forehead and peaches are arranged into a line down the middle of the carving. This further contributes to the visual tension between the curves of the immortal fruit and the lines of the long-living god and crane. This composition, along with the light clarity of the jade, coordinate to make this carving uniquely compelling. In a way, it can be said to represent the eternal, mortal struggle for more life, as embodied by Chinese emperors over the ages.白玉雕一壽老，雙手抱桃，仙鶴依傍，寓意長壽多子，平安吉祥。乾隆時期因皇帝對玉器的喜好，工匠們采用上等新疆和闐玉，在工藝上也精益求精，人物擺件在數量和質量都達到了頂峰。 此壽老擺件相貌慈祥，雕工精細，衣袍飄然若動，須線條細膩，玉質均勻油潤，白如凝脂，具有典型乾隆時期的特色。如此大尺寸的清代宮廷人物擺件，一級白玉雕件實屬罕見，是極為難得的收藏珍品。The Palace Museum in Beijing houses a similar example of Shou holding a ruyi wand under accession number 00232008. A similar, large carving was recently sold by Christie's Hong Kong on November 29, 2020, as lot 2908. 故宮博物院舊藏一件略小的白玉羅漢擺件，衣袍及面容的雕刻風格及包漿與本件都相近，館藏編號故00232008(fig. 1)。另可參閱佳士得香港2020年11月拍賣，編號2908High resolution photos can be found here.