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Lot Essay
Jade carvings of naturalistically rendered crouched hounds, such as the current lot, appears to have gained great popularity in the Song dynasty. See for example a Song dynasty jade hound, with similar modelling to the current lot, illustrated in Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, p. 366, no. 26.10.
For another jade hound but dated to the Tang dynasty, similarly carved with its head sharply turned backwards, see Chinese Jades: The Youngman Collection, From Neolithic to Qing, Robert P. Youngman, Chicago, 2008, p. 98, pl. 99.
Small jade carvings were often used as toggles or ornaments and the subject matter of these often related to the identity and aspirations of the owners. Dogs in Chinese art, particularly elegant hounds such as the one depicted here in jade, are associated with fidelity, high rank and status.
For another jade hound but dated to the Tang dynasty, similarly carved with its head sharply turned backwards, see Chinese Jades: The Youngman Collection, From Neolithic to Qing, Robert P. Youngman, Chicago, 2008, p. 98, pl. 99.
Small jade carvings were often used as toggles or ornaments and the subject matter of these often related to the identity and aspirations of the owners. Dogs in Chinese art, particularly elegant hounds such as the one depicted here in jade, are associated with fidelity, high rank and status.