Page 181 - September 20 2021 Chinese Works of Art Bonhams NYC

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION
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A WHITE AND RUSSET JADE PEBBLE CARVING OF A ‘BEAR The subject of this masterful little carving is that of an eagle, ying,
AND HAWK’ and a bear, Xiong, in combination they form the rebus for ‘hero’,
Qing dynasty, Qianlong period yingxiong. This was a standard image used to evoke ideas of courage,
The pebble cleverly cut to show the hawk with one out-stretched wing loyalty and achievement, qualities perceived as inherent in a hero.
wrapping around the side of the bear which nestles up against the This fondling piece would have been highly appropriate as a gift to
standing hawk, the pebble skin visible primarily to the reverse side, someone in the military. The subject here is treated in such a way that
the wing and tail feathers of the hawk all neatly delineated and softly depending on which way the piece is handled, the bird or the bear
polished. appears to have the upper hand in the tight embrace.
2 1/2in (6.3cm) high
For another white nephrite piece of the same subject, see Therese
$10,000 - 12,000 Tse Bartholomew, Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art, The Asian Art
Museum of San Francisco, 2006,p. 126, no. 5.30.2.
清乾隆 白玉熊鷹把件
For the same subject on a snuff bottle, see Michael C. Hughes, The
Blair Bequest: Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Princeton University Art
Museum, Baltimore, 2002, p. 74, no. 62.

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