A white jade 'Magu and deer' group, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period

Chung Wah Pui, Hong Kong.

Jiang Tao and Liu Yunhui, Jades from the Hei-Chi Collection, Beijing, 2006, p. 190.

Elegantly carved, the present lot is a superb example of the refined craftsmanship and artistic sophistication of the Qianlong period. The harmonious composition depicts Magu with a serene expression and gracefully flowing robes, her tranquil bearing complemented by a spotted deer standing attentively at her side. In one hand, she carries a basket filled with lingzhi, the legendary fungus of immortality, lending the scene a gentle sense of movement and balance.

The Daoist female deity Magu ('Hemp Lady'), first recorded in the Shenxian zhuan (Biographies of the Divine Immortals), compiled during the Jin dynasty, where she is described as having attained immortality after living during the Han period. According to legend, she witnessed the Eastern Sea transform into mulberry fields on three separate occasions while retaining her youthful beauty, making her one of the most enduring symbols of longevity and eternal youth in Chinese tradition.