White jade pendant "yu weng de li", 19th - 20th century

Hetian white jade. Pendant in human form, specifically of a fisherman in his boat, next to the prey: a bird and a fish. He is happy because he has caught both at once while they are fighting. The details are very carefully depicted.

This pendant refers to the Chinese parable "渔翁得利" which means "the fisherman's profit" because while the snipe, long-billed bird, and the clam are fighting, the fisherman will catch them winning everything. The teaching is "if both parties fight, the third party benefits" revealing a deep meaning. This saying comes from the Han dynasty.

Provenance: Important collection of Tommy Lam, Hong Kong, since 1980.

Size: 5.7 x 4 x 1.8 cm; Weight: 54 g