A RARE SET OF THREE CALCIFIED JADE 'LINGZHI' WASHERS Early 18th century (4)A RARE SET OF THREE CALCIFIED JADE 'LINGZHI' WASHERSEarly 18th centuryOf various size, each elegantly carved in the form of an auspicious fungus with undulating sides and a flat base, the largest enclosing a spray of sacred lily with long leaves and attendant lingzhi branches around the exterior walls, the two others detailed in openwork with a gnarled leafy flowering shancha branch extending across the well, the calcified stone of pale buff colour accented with darker brown streaks and finished with a lustrous polish, all three supported on a fitted stand carved in the form of three lingzhi, box. The largest: 19cm (7 1/2in) wide. (4).十八世紀早期 玉雕瑞芝洗三件This set of washers may have been presented on the occasion of a birthday as suggested by the references to longevity through the lingzhi fungus and ruyi form of the vessels, as well as the chrysanthemum flower carved in the middle-sized vessel. The auspicious meaning is emphasised by the wannianqing (rohdea japonica) or the sacred lily carved inside the largest washer, an evergreen which symbolises growth and happiness through its green leaves and numerous descendants through its red berries. Compare related a white jade washer in the form of lingzhi fungus in the Palace Museum, Beijing, which is illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Place Museum: Jade, Beijing, 2011, vol.10, p.247, pl.196. 三洗取形靈芝，皆平口，最大者口沿一端回捲，內底浮雕萬年青一株，外壁淺浮雕折枝靈芝三枝，較小一洗口沿鏤空雕過橋靈芝，內壁光素，外壁浮雕折枝靈芝，另一較小洗口沿則鏤空雕折枝山茶過橋，餘身光素。 靈芝寓意長壽，萬年青寄意長久，二者結合則有長壽萬年之意。 清宮作器，言必吉祥，故靈芝等吉祥植物常作為玉器之創作題材，可比較一件北京故宮藏清代青玉靈芝洗，其取材裝飾與本件相類，見《故宮博物院藏品大系玉器篇》，北京，2011年，卷10，頁247，圖版196。