Lot 952
952
A PALE GREENISH-WHITE JADE CARVING OF A MYTHICAL HORSE RIDING WAVES, LONGMA
PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE GERARD ARNHOLD
A PALE GREENISH-WHITE JADE CARVING OF A MYTHICAL HORSE, LONGMA

18TH CENTURY

Details
A PALE GREENISH-WHITE JADE CARVING OF A MYTHICAL HORSE, LONGMA
18TH CENTURY
The mythical, horse-like creature is supported on a base of turbulent waves while grasping in its mouth the end of the ribbon tied around a bundle of scrolls resting on its back. The well-polished stone is of a pale greenish-white color.
3 ¼ in. (8.4 cm.) wide
Provenance
Christie's Hong Kong, 20 March 1990, lot 951.
The Gerard Arnhold (1918-2010) Collection, São Paolo.

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Olivia Hamilton
Olivia Hamilton
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Lot Essay

The longma is an auspicious creature that, according to legend, emerged from the Luo River revealing itself to Fuxi, the first of the three legendary sovereigns of ancient China. The markings on the creature's back inspired Fuxi to invent the eight trigrams, which led to the invention of writing and calligraphy, represented by the scrolls on the creature's back.

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