Page 47 - Sothebys Speelman Gems of Chinese Art

3409

A BLACK JADE FIGURE OF A 明 玉雕臥鳳
PHOENIX

MING DYNASTY
well worked in the form of a phoenix with its head sharply
turned backwards, the rounded body of the mythical bird
skilfully accentuated with a pair of stylised bifurcated wings
and terminating in a long curled tail, the lustrously patinated
black stone highlighted with pale russet mottles and a celadon
patch
9 cm, 3½ in.
HK$ 200,000-300,000
US$ 25,600-38,400
This charming figure, in its colour and form, encapsulates
Ming-dynasty animal carvings continued from the Song
repertoire. Such representations of recumbent birds allowed
the craftsmen to make full use of the contours of the jade
pebbles to create whimsical forms with minimal waste.
Fashioned with its head genially turned back and plumage
rendered in archaistic scrolls and complimentary curves, the
present piece lends its inspiration from Song prototypes,
such as one exhibited in Chinese Jade Animals, Hong Kong
Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1996, cat. no. 103. The variegated
dark hues of the pebble, execution of the phoenix’s eyes, beak
and wattles are closely related to an example also dated to the
Ming dynasty, sold in our London rooms, 16th May 2012, lot
217.

GEMS OF CHINESE ART — THE SPEELMAN COLLECTION I 45