Page 26 - Blum Feinstein Tanka collection HIMALAYAN Art Bonhams March 20 2024

PROPERTY FROM THE ALAN AND SIMONE
HARTMAN COLLECTION
221
A CELADON JADE 'QILIN AND BOOK'
CARVING
19th century
Elegantly carved, the beast in a recumbent posture
with its legs and hooves tucked neatly under
the body, the head flanked by two horns and its
jaws grasping a sprig of lingzhi, the head turned
backwards and looking towards the heavenly books,
tianshu on its back, its haunches detailed with
scales, the stone a light green hue with russet and
pale inclusions.
4in (10.2cm) long
$2,000 - 3,000
十九世紀 青白玉麟吐玉書擺飾

221 The depiction of a qilin issuing a jade book is
profoundly symbolic, recalling Confucius' mother's
dream before his birth. The phrase "lin tu yushu"
(qilin issuing a jade book) is a wish for the birth of
an illustrious male child, as the qilin is believed to
appear before a sage's birth. Such carvings were
commonly given as gifts to wealthy families upon a
male child's birth, symbolizing auspiciousness and
hope.

For a related jade carving of a qilin dated to
Qianlong, in the Qing Court Collection, see Zhang
Guangwen, ed., Gugong bowuyuan cang wenwu
zhenpin quanji: yuqi, xia [Complete Collection of
Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jade, III], Beijing,
1996, p.114, cat. no. 94.

PROPERTY FROM THE ALAN AND SIMONE
HARTMAN COLLECTION
222
A YELLOW JADE FIGURE OF A RAM
Late Qing/Republic Period
The recumbent animal shown at rest, with small
head well crafted with ears laid back under curved
222 horns, the stone a rich yellow-green with russet
patches.
3 5/8in (9.2cm) long
$2,000 - 3,000

清末/民國 黃玉雕羊擺飾

24 | BONHAMS