Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Randy Batista

Images(3)

Boulder with Landscape and Imperial Inscription

Artist Unknown Chinese Artist

Date18th century

Made/manufacturedChina

MediumJade

Dimensions4 11/16 x 4 1/2 x 2 in. (11.9 x 11.4 x 5.1 cm)

ClassificationsSculpture

Credit LineBequest of Dr. David A. Cofrin

Object number2009.48.228

Collections

ASIAN

DescriptionA small mountain of pale celadon nephrite with russet inclusions carved on one side with a pavilion behind a rocky ledge, shaded by pine trees and three figures at work. The peak of the boulder is incised and gilded with a poem:

A Picture of Bumper Harvest made by the emperor:

Mountains and flowers are there
Just to prophet the good harvest of the year.
Villages after villages are busy with getting in the crops,
So are each of the households.
People live close to each other,
With their chickens and dogs bumping into one another.
Villagers gather to talk farming affairs,
Much of the traditions and way of life is retained.

The reverse side is rendered with a farm house and fields, all enclosed with a fence running into the distance behind layered rock work and gnarled pine trees. In our opinion, this boulder is a classical example of eighteenth century workmanship in terms of material and subject matter. (Bernstein appraisal)