17TH CENTURY OR EARLIER

Stylistically, the carving of this mythical beast and its pose appear to be based on similar carvings of Six Dynasties date, such as the carving of a bixie from the collection of Dr. and Mrs. Cheng Te-k'un, illustrated by James C.Y. Watt in the exhibition catalogue, Chinese Jades from Han to Ch'ing, The Asia Society, New York, 1980, no. 12.