LATE MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY

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A RARE YELLOWISH-GREEN AND BLACK JADE CARVING OF A MYTHICAL BEAST
LATE MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY
The mottled pebble carved utilizing the natural colors of the stone for emphasis in the form of a recumbent leonine beast, its ears lying flat on its broad head, its bulging eyes focused in an intent gaze above its ruyi-shaped nose, its mouth tightly closed and its tail flicked up on its haunch, the hair of its mane and tail finely rendered, slightly covering its protruding, ribbed backbone
3 in. (7.6 cm.) long

Lot Essay

This type of pebble nephrite, when found in its natural form, is frequently of a yellowish-green color with a darker, often jet-black skin. It was extremely popular with carvers from the Tang dynasty through the Ming, the reason for which is immediately apparent from the impact the color pattern has on the intensity of the figure. The current example uses the black skin of the stone to draw attention to the exquisitely carved facial features, which give the figure its lifelike appearance.

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