Page 19 - 2019 September 9th Bonhams Important Chinese Works of Art

817

817
A WHITE JADE ‘THREE RAMS’ GROUP
18th/19th century
The three rams portrayed in recumbent postures, lying on a
stepped rocky outcrop with the largest ram in the middle, each ram
naturalistically carved with legs neatly tucked, majestic head slightly
raised and crowned with long curled horns, a sprig of lingzhi growing
at the base of the rocky outcrop, the lustrous creamy-white stone with
russet inclusions and stained russet fissures.
4 1/2in (12cm) long

$10,000 - 15,000
十八/十九世紀 白玉雕三羊開泰擺件

In the hexagrams of the Yijing, solid lines represent the male or yang
principal, while broken lines represent the female or yin principal.
The hexagram tai which represents spring and new beginnings is
comprised of three broken lines above three solid lines. It is considered
to be in perfect balance with the three broken lines symbolizing heaven
above and the three solid lines symbolizing the earth below. The motif
of three sheep, sanyang, is therefore a pun, with three sheep standing
in for the three solid lines, and forming a rebus for the phrase sanyang
kaitai, referencing the period between the winter solstice and the
New Year, when the warm yang energy is emerging, and the earth is
returning to life.

FINE CHINESE WORKS OF ART AND PAINTINGS | 17