A PALE GREEN AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF PEACHES AND MONKEY 18th century (3)A PALE GREEN AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF PEACHES AND MONKEY18th centuryDeftly carved as a large peach issuing from a gnarled stem with another smaller peach and curling leaves, an auspicious bat swoops from the top while a monkey tries to clasp the giant peach with both arms, the stone of pale green tone with russet-brown patches, box, wood stand. 7.5cm (3in) long (3).十八世紀 玉雕靈猴獻壽Provenance: a distinguished English private collection來源：英國顯赫私人收藏The motif of monkey and peach has been popular in Chinese art since the tale of Xiyou ji (Journey to the West), published in the Ming dynasty, narrating the story of a monkey stealing a celestial peach of longevity from the orchard of the Queen Mother of the West. Naturally, the symbolism is one of longevity. See a related white jade carving of a monkey and peach, Qianlong, which was sold at Sotheby's London, 10 May 2017, lot 93.