A SMALL WHITE, RUSSET AND BROWN JADE CARVING OF A BIRD

18TH CENTURY

Details

A SMALL WHITE, RUSSET AND BROWN JADE CARVING OF A BIRD
18TH CENTURY
Shown recumbent with slender legs carved on the underside and head turned to rest on the back, with ruyi motifs carved at the front of the wings and the tail, the pale greenish-white stone with some brown and russet color
2½ in. (6.3 cm.) long

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Lot Essay

Compare the carving of the present jade bird to one illustrated by J. Watt in Chinese Jades From Han to Ch'ing, New York, 1980, p. 96, no. 81, where it is dated to the 13th/14th century. Although of earlier date, both carvings feature the bird in a similar pose with wings outstretched and head turned back towards the tail, which Watt associates with jades of Song and Yuan date. Also of note is the use of a heavily mottled stone, which in the case of the published example is yellow with dark brown markings.

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