AN 18th CENTURY CELADON JADE PHOENIX SHAPE POLE FINIAL The stone is of an even celadon hue, very fine surface polish China, 18th century This 18th century pole finial is carved in the shape of a majestic phoenix with its long tail feathers and its feet tucked underneath its belly. A vertical drilling marks this piece as a staff or pole finial. From the Song to Ming periods, bird-shaped jade staff finials were made in the Han style. Each year in mid-autumn those who had reached the age of seventy were presented with a foot-long jade staff adorned at one end with the figure of a dove. The dove was chosen as the ideal gift for elderly persons because it is known for its ability to swallow and digest anything without choking, and of course, the gift implied that the recipient would perform likewise.Shape: Figural shape Dimensions: length is 8 cm, height is 4.5 cm Weight: 113.5 gramsCondition: very good condition with tiny nicks to one temple Provenance: from an American private collectionAuction results comparison: Sotheby’s, FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART08 APRIL 2014, HONG KONG, lot 3145 (for a white jade ‘bird’ finial, dating to the Ming Dynasty)十八世紀青玉鳳凰杖首青色玉,表面抛光細緻中國, 十八世紀造型:鳥形 尺寸:長8 厘米, 高 4.5 厘米 重量:113.5 克品相:極好,局部有小磕痕來源:美國私人收藏