Page 117 - Bonhams May 16, 2019 London Asian Art

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A VERY PALE GREEN JADE CARVING
OF A QILIN AND BOOKS
18th century
The horned mythical beast carved with bulging
eyes beneath bushy brows, its legs tucked under
its body and head raised issuing lingzhi-shaped
cloud vapours supporting a book on its back, finely
detailed with scales on its legs and thighs, the rear
with a carefully-incised mane, the stone of a very
pale green tone, wood stand.
6cm (2 3/8in) wide. (2).

£8,000 - 12,000
CNY70,000 - 110,000

十八世紀 青白玉雕麒麟負書把件

Provenance: Christie’s London, 3 May 1978, lot 144
Lowenthal Collection, no.51

來源：倫敦佳士得，1978年5月3日，編號144
Lowenthal藏品，编號51

The qilin represents a number of positive attributes
including benevolence, longevity, grandeur, felicity,
illustrious offspring and wise administration. It is
considered a good omen as it is said to appear only
during the reign of a benevolent ruler. However, the
particular symbolism represented by the mythical
beast carrying books is based on a legend from the
life of Confucius, when it was said that neighbours
saw a qilin delivering books made of jade at the time
of his birth. Furthermore, auspicious symbolism is 123
conveyed by the pun lin tu yu shu (‘May you give
birth to an illustrious son’). For a related jade carving
of a qilin, Qianlong, in the Qing Court Collection, see
The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace
Museum: Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, p.114,
no.94; and illustrated by R.Keverne, ed., Jade,
London, 1995, p.154, fig.67, where Yang Boda
noted that ‘Kylin are rarely represented in jade’.

See a related very pale green and russet jade
carving of a recumbent qilin, 18th century, which
was sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 29 November
2016, lot 13.

124
A WHITE AND RUSSET JADE CARVING
OF DOUBLE CATFISH
18th century
Finely carved in the round as two interlocking catfish
with long whiskers, one clasping an ancient chime
attached to a long ribbon, the stone of pale white
tone with russet inclusions, wood stand.
5cm (2in) long. (2).

£3,000 - 5,000
CNY26,000 - 44,000

十八世紀 白玉帶皮年年有餘把件

Provenance: Lowenthal Collection, no.53

來源：Lowenthal藏品，编號53

124

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 | 115