Page 16 - Christie's, NYC Important Chinese Works Of Art Sept. 22-23, 2022

CHINESE JADES FROM THE COLLECTION OF T. EUGENE WORRELL
706
A RARE AND FINELY CARVED WHITE JADE FIGURE OF A As Jenny So notes in “The Functions of Jade Animal Sculptures in Ancient
MYTHICAL BEAST China,” Chinese Jade Animals, Hong Kong, 1996, p. 30, beginning in the Han
SONG-MING DYNASTY (AD 960-1644) OR EARLIER dynasty jade animal sculptures “figured as an integral part of the daily lives
The beast is carved with the body of a feline and the head of a chilong with of their owners and admirers”. So explains, “With their colourful mythological
small pointed ears, blunt snout and teeth bared. The figure is drilled through and philosophical associations, it would be easy for these sculptures to
the back and the sides for suspension. The softly polished stone is of an even capture the imagination of the educated gentleman and become a prized
tone with a pale greyish tinge and russet striations. element of his interior furnishings. Like the miniature gardens of the Tang
dynasty, a single or a select group of jade animals in the home could evoke an
2º in. (5.7 cm.) long idyllic world where one could escape from the burdens of everyday life.”
$40,000-60,000 The present figure, with its compact, muscular round body squatting on four
strong limbs, exemplifies the type of small jade carvings of mythical beasts
PROVENANCE: that enjoyed popularity from the Han dynasty onwards. Several jade figures
Hugh Moss, Shuisongshi Shanfang (Water, Pine and Stone Retreat) of this type are illustrated in Chinse Jade Animals, op. cit., including two
Collection. identified as chimera, pp. 78-9, nos. 43 and 44, and dated Han dynasty and
J. J. Lally & Co., New York, 26 October 2005. possibly Western Han dynasty, respectively, as well as a carving of a tiger
and bear, pp. 82-3, no. 48, which is dated to the Han dynasty and carved
EXHIBITED: from a white stone with russet brown areas. The paws and claws of the tiger
Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong, The University Museum and Art and bear are similar to those on the present figure, and the head of the tiger
Gallery, Exquisite Jade Carving: Figures, Animals, Ornaments, 9 December is also heavily stylized and has a blunt, straight jaw.
1995 – 6 February 1996.
Charlottesville, Worrell Family Offices Gallery, 2005-2022.
LITERATURE:
The University of Hong Kong, The University Museum and Art Gallery,
Exquisite Jade Carving: Figures, Animals, Ornaments, Hong Kong, 1995, p. 139,
no. 115.

T. EUGENE WORRELL珍藏中國玉器
宋至明或以前 白玉瑞獸
來源:
莫士撝, 水松石山房珍藏
藍理捷, 紐約, 2005年10月26日
展覽:
香港, 香港大學美術博物館, 「玲瓏玉雕: 玉人, 玉獸, 玉飾」, 1995年12月9日-1996
年2月6日
夏洛茨維爾, Worrell家族藝廊, 2005-2022年
出版:
香港大學美術博物館, 《玲瓏玉雕: 玉人, 玉獸, 玉飾》, 香港, 1995年, 頁139, 編號
115

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