It is quite rare to find a quail box modelled as a standing bird necessitated a higher wastage of the raw material. More often, the bird is positioned with its legs tucked under, such as the pair illustrated by R. Kleiner, Chinese Jades from the Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, no. 196, previously from the T. Y. Chao Collection. The present box compares favourably to a goose-form box sold in these Rooms, the Imperial Sale, 28 April 1996, lot 3.

(US$4,500-5,800)