Page 61 - Sotheby's New York Chinese Jade Auction September 13, 2018
P. 61
952
A PALE GREENISH-WHITE JADE CARVING OF A MYTHICAL HORSE, LONGMA
18TH CENTURY
The mythical, horse-like creature is supported on a base of turbulent waves while grasping
in its mouth the end of the ribbon tied around a bundle of scrolls resting on its back.
The well-polished stone is of a pale greenish-white color.
3º in. (8.4 cm.) wide
$12,000-18,000
PROVENANCE
Christie’s Hong Kong, 20 March 1990, lot 951.
The Gerard Arnhold (1918-2010) Collection, São Paolo.
The longma is an auspicious creature that, according to legend, emerged from the Luo River
revealing itself to Fuxi, the frst of the three legendary sovereigns of ancient China. The
markings on the creature’s back inspired Fuxi to invent the eight trigrams, which led to
the invention of writing and calligraphy, represented by the scrolls on the creature’s back.
清十八世紀 白玉雕龍馬負圖把件
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