A RARE CELADON AND BROWN JADE FOREIGNER

POSSIBLY TANG DYNASTY

細節
A RARE CELADON AND BROWN JADE FOREIGNER
Possibly Tang Dynasty
The bearded figure standing wtih hunched rounded shoulders and arms crossed at his belly, wearing a leopard skin apron, the reverse with a simple chevron sash tied at the waist, attractive dark inclusions to the stone, pierced vertically at center
1in. (3.6cm.) high

拍品專文

Although other small jade figures of foreigners dating to the Tang exist, nothing resembling our example is published. It appears that this particular carving was cut from the interior edge of a neolithic jade cong, presumably at a time of a scarcity of the material. The paucity of jade in the Tang period might explain the cutting of a precious Neolithic example.

Interestingly, many of the carved figures of foreigners are of very small size and as a result tend to have few projecting elements and often the arms of the figures are crossed together at their fronts. For examples see Brain Morgan, Naturalism and Archaism: Chinese Jades from the Kirknorton Collection, Carter Fine Arts Ltd, London, 1995, Catalogue, no. 12; the exhibition, Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1975, Catalogue, p. 74, nos. 212 and 213; and Messrs. Eskenazi, Chinese Jades from a Private Collection, June - July, 1976, Catalogue, pp. 18-19, no.8