Page 20 - Chiense jades Hong Kong Sothebys April 2017

3301

A WHITE JADE FIGURE OF A 明 白玉瑞獸
MYTHICAL BEAST
MING DYNASTY 來源：
知柔齋收藏
finely worked in the round, its slender and 香港蘇富比2008年10月8日，編號2321
muscular body depicted resting on its haunches
accentuated with sharp talons and picked out 展覽：
with archaistic motifs, the facial features well 馮陳善奇及楊春堂編，《玲瓏玉雕－玉人、
defined with bulging eyes and flaring nostrils 玉獸、玉飾》，香港大學美術博物館，香港，
above a curled beard and below small pointed 1996年，編號111
ears and two horns at the forehead, with a 《中國肖生玉雕》，香港藝術館，香港，
knobbly spine sweeping back to a long bushy tail 1996年，編號142
curling up to its chest, the stone of a pure white
colour throughout with a small russet inclusion on 瑞獸白玉質，作半蹲狀。昂首挺胸，頭有雙
the beast’s backside 角，雙目圓睜，嘴微張露齒，長鬚及胸。背上
4.4 cm, 1¾ in. 凸脊，尾盤於腹下至胸前，四肢綴仿古紋。

PROVENANCE

The Zhirouzhai Collection.
Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8th October 2008, lot
2321.

EXHIBITED

Sydney S.K. Fung and Yeung Chun-tong,
eds., Exquisite Jade Carving: Figures, Animals,
Ornaments, University Museum and Art Gallery,
University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1996, cat.
no. 111.
Chinese Jade Animals, Hong Kong Museum of
Art, Hong Kong, 1996, cat. no. 142.

HK$ 500,000-700,000
US$ 64,500-90,500

The present piece is a superb example of the
carver taking advantage of the pebble shape
to create a crouching mythical creature. Half
seated with its rear legs poised for action and
head raised to attention, the highly-polished
surface and smoothly rounded forms provide
an impeccable base upon which the details
are carved. Although the rigid knobbed spine,
prominent archaistic patterns and pebble-form
are typical of the Ming period, the extent of
decoration, depth of carving and finely modelled
facial features and paws demonstrate the
carver’s expertise in the medium.

18 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比