Page 28 - Robert Youngman Collection Of Chinese Jade March 2019 Sotheby's

This finely carved figure naturalistically captures the buoyant gait of a carefree child. Here, the boy moves with
swiftness and grace while glancing affectionately at the small animal dashing between his feet and clambering at
one of his shoes. His pervasive ease even pacifies the bird he carries in his right hand.
The beribboned ring the boy holds in his left hand has led to some speculation that the figure may represent the
legendary child-hero Nezha (or Nuo Zha). Nezha’s attributes include the ‘Cosmic Ring’ which he uses to defeat
the Dragon King’s son, Ao Bing. For an example of this subject, see a Qing dynasty green jade ring carved in
openwork with the image of Nezha using rings to attack a dragon, in the collection of the Freer Sackler Galleries,
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., (acc. no. S1987.767). The iconography of the present carving,
however, is not entirely consistent with myths about Nezha. For instance, there are no anecdotes associating
him with birds, double-gourds, or small beasts. Thus, it is just as likely that this carving simply represents a boy
enjoying an afternoon stroll with his pets and a toy ring.
The manner of representation, particularly in the joie-de-vivre attitude of the subject, the folds of the garment,
and the way the carving marks are finished, compare closely to a late Ming - early Qing dynasty white jade
carving of Liu Hai, in the collection of Dr. Ip Yee, exhibited and published in Chinese Jade Carving, Hong Kong
Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1983, cat. no. 170. See also a contemporaneous mutton-fat jade carving of a figure
with birds. from the Chih-jou Chai Collection, exhibited and published in Chinese Jades from Han to Ch’ing,
Asia Society, New York, 1980, cat. no. 103.

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