Page 93 - Bonhams, Fine Chinese Art, London November 3, 2022

132 *
A WHITE AND RUSSET JADE ‘DOUBLE BADGER’ GROUP
18th century
The creatures finely carved facing each other, each grasping one end
of a lingzhi stem in its mouth, the stone of a pale even white tone with
soft polish and small russet inclusions.
7.5cm (3in) wide.

£4,000 - 6,000
CNY31,000 - 47,000
十八世紀 玉雕雙獾

Provenance: Sir Michael Oppenheimer (3rd Baronet, 1924-2020) and
Lady Helen Oppenheimer DD (1926-2022), and thence by descent

來源：Michael Oppenheimer 爵士（三代從男爵，1924-2020年）
與Helen Oppenheimer爵士夫人（1926-2022年）舊藏，並由後人保
存迄今

The Chinese word for badger, 獾 huan, is homophone with the
word for happiness, 歡 huan. In this case, a pair of badgers, 雙
獾 shuanghuan, stands for conjugal joy, an intimacy that is skilfully
portrayed by the carver in posing the two animal gently entwined
together.

Compare a related white jade ‘double badger’ group from the Tuyet 132
Nguyet Collection, illustrated by H.K.F.Hui and T.Y.Pang, Virtuous
Treasures: Chinese Jades for the Scholar’s Table, Hong Kong, 2007,
no.103.

A related white jade ‘double badger’ group, 18th century, was sold at
Bonhams Hong Kong, 27 November 2014, lot 106.

133 *
AN AMETHYST CARVING OF A GOAT AND TWO YOUNG,
SANYANG
19th century
The stone finely carved in the round as three recumbent goats,
sanyang, each with almond-shaped eyes, floppy ears, a pair of curved
horns relaxed against the neck, the parent’s head turned backward
toward the young.
7cm (2 6/8in) long.
£800 - 1,200
CNY6,300 - 9,400
十九世紀 紫晶三羊開泰

Provenance: Sir Michael Oppenheimer (3rd Baronet, 1924-2020) and
Lady Helen Oppenheimer DD (1926-2022), and thence by descent

來源：Michael Oppenheimer 爵士（三代從男爵，1924-2020年）
與Helen Oppenheimer爵士夫人（1926-2022年）舊藏，並由後人保
存迄今

The character for sheep or goat, yang (羊), appeared as early as
the Han dynasty and is homophone with the word for auspicious or 133
lucky. By the Qing period, the image of sheep had become heavily
associated with the sun, warm, positive, masculine force in Chinese
cosmology, also pronounced yang.

The development of the sheep into a group of three, sanyang, is a
reference to the favourable arrival of spring, since the phrase sanyang
kaitai (三陽開泰), points to the period between the winter solstice and
the New Year. This was the period when the warm yang energy is
emerging, as detailed in the ancient Chinese classic of prognostication,
the Yijing, or ‘Book of Changes’.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. FINE CHINESE ART | 91