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Lot Essay
The mythical beast bixie has distinctive features characterised by a pair of wings on the back, a horn on the head and the body of a lion. This auspicious animal is believed to be capable of warding off evil spirits and bringing blessings as well as protection to the possessor, and has been a popular subject for jade carvings throughout the history of material culture in China.
The modelling of the current jade is based on carvings dating to the Han or Six Dynasties, 1st century BC-3rd century AD, such as the jade water pot in the form of a mythical beast dated to the Han period, illustrated by J. Rawson in Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, British Museum, 1995, p. 363, no. 26:7. Another jade beast from Shaanxi Xianyang Xinzhuang with a similar menacing stance, but with its head facing more forward, dated to the 1st century BC, is illustrated in ibid., p. 364, fig. 1.
The modelling of the current jade is based on carvings dating to the Han or Six Dynasties, 1st century BC-3rd century AD, such as the jade water pot in the form of a mythical beast dated to the Han period, illustrated by J. Rawson in Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, British Museum, 1995, p. 363, no. 26:7. Another jade beast from Shaanxi Xianyang Xinzhuang with a similar menacing stance, but with its head facing more forward, dated to the 1st century BC, is illustrated in ibid., p. 364, fig. 1.