A PALE GREEN AND CHESTNUT BROWN JADE 'PEACHES AND BAT' CARVING 18th century The pebble smoothly carved as a large ripe peach beside a smaller peach issuing from gnarled leafy stems, a small auspicious bat clambering at the tip of the larger peach, the stone of pale green tone with dark brown patches. 7.5cm (3in) wide. Footnotes: 十八世紀 青玉蝙蝠桃紋把件 Provenance: an English private collection Roger Keverne Ltd., London An English private collection, acquired from the above in July 2002, and thence by descent Peaches and bats are both highly auspicious motifs. Peaches symbolise longevity and Immortality, associated with the legendary peaches of immortality of Xi Wangmu, while bats represent blessings and good fortune because the word for bat (fu 蝠) is a homophone of fu (福), meaning happiness or good fortune. When combined, the motifs convey wishes for long life and abundant blessings. See a related yellow and russet jade carving of a 'bat and peach' 18th century, which was sold at Christie's New York, 21st March 2025, lot 897. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing