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 large Chinese jade vase dating from the 18th century. The vase is elaborately carved with a pair of carp dragons, and the jade features a light and even texture and tone. Dimensions are: 9 inches tall X 6 inches wide X 3 1/2 inches deep, 22.86 cm X 15.24 cm X 8.89 cm. All measurements are approximate. Condition: Overall good condition with minuscule chipping throughout. 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 St Petersburg, Florida collection. Notes: This hefty vase is carved from a massive boulder of clean, evenly-toned jade. The carvings form a pair of Carp-dragons, capturing the famous moment from mythology that sees a carp leaping the Dragon Gate on the Yellow River to transform into a dragon. This legend is so prolific and well-known that it is frequently used as an idiom: "carp jumps over the dragon gate" is intended to convey a sudden uplifting of one's social status. It is also used to encourage students, as the motif of the leaping carp also connoted success in civil service examinations.On this vase, the pair of carp dragons soar upwards out of roiling waves. They have both been caught mid-transformation. The smaller carp leaps upwards at an oblique angle, propelled by its curving tail. The body of the larger dragon is sinuous and numerous layers of scales glisten as it arcs upwards away from its compatriot. Its mouth opens as if in shock at its new form, its lips curling into a moue of triumph. This majestic carving is a fine addition for any literary scholar's enjoyment.相傳在遠古時代，金、銀色的鯉魚想跳過龍門，飛入雲端升天化為龍，但是它們偷吞了海裏的龍珠，只能變成龍頭魚身，稱之謂鰲魚。雄性鰲魚金鱗葫蘆尾，雌性鰲魚銀鱗芙蓉尾，終日熬遊大海嬉戲。古神話裏有比較有名的「鰲魚負山」引出「龍伯釣鰲」的故事。據《列子·湯向篇》記載：在渤海東邊，不知道幾十萬裏的地方，有一個大壑，名叫歸墟。大地上八方九州原野的水，乃至天上銀河的水，全都流註在歸墟裏面。此件花插通體白度一流，玉質細膩緊密，鰲魚龍首魚身，躍身 於海浪之間，銀鱗歷歷，仰首向天，張嘴低吼，大小相對，靈活生動，臥於海浪之上。器形呈魚躍水面狀，器底雕作海水紋，整體雕工精湛，魚鱗處刻畫的顆顆分明，海浪洶湧翻滾，栩栩如生，形象生動活潑。用料上乘，體型碩大，。花插取材珍貴，構思精巧，雕工古拙老道，古時為官者將此物置於文房，裝飾之效，亦可鞭策自省，堪為案頭佳器。此作品具有「魚躍龍門」的吉兆。「魚躍龍門」的典故出於《三秦記》：「江海魚集龍門下，登者化龍……」。「龍門」是黃河天險之一，水流湍急，洄遊之魚至此，勢必奮力激躍。前人將此自然現象，比賦寒窗苦讀的士子應試中第，平步青雲，猶如由魚成龍的情況。The Palace Museum in Beijing houses several similar objects under accession numbers 00098537 and 00102716, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City also has a similar object in its collections under accession number 02.18.460. Christie's New York sold a similar piece on March 21, 2013, as lot 1393. 同類型可參閱北京故宮博物院館藏清青玉魚龍式花插，編號故0009853(fig. 1)；清青玉魚龍花插，編號故00102716(fig. 2)；大都會博物館館藏，編號02.18.460(fig. 3)。另見佳士得紐約2013年03月拍賣， 拍品號1393。High resolution photos can be found here.