Ancient Chinese Art
This jade carving represents a wish for long life. It depicts a cat (mao), which is a rebus for 70 to 80 years old, and butterflies on leaves. The butterfly is homophonous with die meaning aged 80. The implied wish is �May you live to be 70 or 80.�
Cat and Butterfly on Leaves, Jade. Height 8.6 cm. Qing dynasty, 18th century. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.