A WHITE JADE RAM | Christie's

A WHITE JADE RAM

Details

A WHITE JADE RAM
MING DYNASTY

The recumbent ram carved in the round, its head turned slightly to the right, with two long, sharp horns, the spine slightly raised and the tail of spade shape, the underside strongly carved with the four legs, the stone predominantly of pale tone with some pale russet inclusions (tiny chip to right ear)
3 1/8in. (8cm.) long, stand, box

Exhibited

Pacific Asia Museum, 1986, Catalogue, no. 185
San Antonio Museum of Art, 1986
The Dayton Art Institute, 1989, no. 205

Lot Essay

A popular subject since the Han dynasty, Morgan, Chinese Jades, no. 38, notes that "Amongst the reasons for the representation in the Chinese art of the long-horned ram was the appreciation of the wide tail as a gastronomic delicacy."

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