Page 10 - Sotheby's New York Chinese Jade Auction September 13, 2018

PROPERTY FROM THE WILLIAM S. ARNETT COLLECTION, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
903
A RARE WHITE AND PALE BROWN JADE FIGURE
OF A SEATED FOREIGNER
TANG-EARLY MING DYNASTY, 9TH-14TH CENTURY
The thick fgure depicts a bearded, foreign musician shown seated with one leg bent under the
body as he holds what appears to be a cloth-draped object. He wears a belted robe that falls in
ribbed folds under the body and between his legs worn over his loose pants. His head is turned
to the side and his face is well carved with down-turned mouth, a small nose and well-defned
eyes. The well polished, white stone is suffused with fne russet-brown veining.
2¬ in. (6.7 cm.) high
$20,000-30,000

PROVENANCE
William A. Arnett Collection, Atlanta, Georgia, acquired prior to 1971.
EXHIBITED
On loan: High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia, September 1973 to September 1980.
On loan: Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 1993.

During the Tang dynasty, foreigners were a popular motif on jade belt plaques. A number
of these are illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 41 -
Jadeware (II), Hong Kong, 1995, pls. 22-27. The bearded foreign musician playing a fute on
the plaque in pl. 22, wears a similarly depicted robe, and the seated foreign musician on the
plaque in pl. 23, appears to be playing a sheng.
唐/明初 白褐玉胡人把件

(additional views)

8 FINE CHINESE JADE CARVINGS from Private Collections