A PALE GREEN JADE DOUBLE-GOURD BOX AND COVER Qianlong/Jiaqing Naturalistically carved on its side issuing from tangled vines with leaves, further smaller double gourds, and curling tendrils extending around the body, the cover with a fluttering butterfly, the stone of even pale greyish-green tone with some dark speckles, carved wood stand. 17.5cm (6 7/8in) long. (3). Footnotes: 清乾隆/嘉慶 青玉葫蘆蓋盒 Provenance: Bill Spiers Trudy and John Cohen, collection no.H1 來源：Bill Spiers Trudy及John Cohen伉儷，收藏編號H1 The double gourd (hulu 葫蘆) is a potent auspicious symbol in Chinese art, valued both for its form and its wordplay. As a natural container of seeds, it signifies fertility, abundance and the continuation of the family line, while its hollow interior associates it with containment of blessings, elixirs and protective powers, hence its frequent appearance as an attribute of Daoist Immortals. The term hulu is also a homophone for fu lu (福祿), meaning 'good fortune and emolument', reinforcing its auspicious connotations. When paired with a butterfly (die 蝶), the rebus becomes particularly rich: die is a homophone for die (耋), denoting advanced age, so the combination conveys wishes for longevity, prosperity and the transmission of blessings across generations. The pairing thus encapsulates ideals of long life, fecundity and enduring good fortune. See a related green jade double-gourd shaped brush washer with design of bats, Qing dynasty, illustrated in the Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade, 10, Beijing, 2011, p.245, no.194. For a slightly larger jade grouping of clustered gourds, 18th century, see R.Kleiner, Chinese Jades from the Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, Hong Kong, 1996, p.255, no.204. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y Y Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the UK, see clause 13. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing