Lot Essay
Wu Hung, op. cit., comments on the composite style of this lively animal which he describes as having a dragon's body, a lion's tail and a bear-like head, with "an almost child-like expresion".
Another mythical animal carved in a very similar style and from a similar stone is described by Watt in Chinese Jades from Han to Ch'ing Catalogue, no.49, and illustrated in colour. He refers to the "soft texture and warm tone of the yellow jade, together with the plastic qualities of the carving, making this piece especially attractive to the lover of jade". The same qualities can be found in the supple rendition of the Godfrey beast. The knobbed spine and softly rounded features distinguish both pieces. Watt also notes that yellow jades were popular in the Yuan and Ming dynasties primarily in the 14th-15th centuries. Specific examples of Ming literati preference for yellow jade can be found in the writings of both Gao Lian and Xie Zhaozhe.
Another mythical animal carved in a very similar style and from a similar stone is described by Watt in Chinese Jades from Han to Ch'ing Catalogue, no.49, and illustrated in colour. He refers to the "soft texture and warm tone of the yellow jade, together with the plastic qualities of the carving, making this piece especially attractive to the lover of jade". The same qualities can be found in the supple rendition of the Godfrey beast. The knobbed spine and softly rounded features distinguish both pieces. Watt also notes that yellow jades were popular in the Yuan and Ming dynasties primarily in the 14th-15th centuries. Specific examples of Ming literati preference for yellow jade can be found in the writings of both Gao Lian and Xie Zhaozhe.