A very fine and rare lapis lazuli carving of a carp turning into a dragon, the carp’s head is finely carved with bushy eyebrows over protruding eyes and a broad nose; finely incised water gushes from its mouth. The dragon’s head is similarly worked but its long body is sinuously curled. The stone is a very fine deep blue with gold flecks. It is mounted on a silver stand in the form of branches of lingzhi fungus on a shaped, bun-footed base.

18th century
Height: 5 3/4”, 14.1 cm

Formerly in the collection of George de Menasce Exhibited: Garner, The Arts of the Ch’ing Dynasty, The Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1964, no. 430 and illustrated in the catalogue.

In Chinese mythology the carp turned into a dragon as it leapt the Longmen Falls and is symbolic of success and official promotion.