A large and impressive jade carving of a horse, probably Chongzhen period, 17th century, carved pale-grey nephrite jade with black mottling and ochre rivering, modelled as a recumbent horse with its forelegs and hind legs elegantly tucked under its body, the tail sweeps to the right side and head, alert with ears pricked, turned back, a semi-circular forelock, neatly incised, gives way to a centrally parted short mane which falls in carved and incised locks over the neck, 172 x 242mm, together with a slightly later carved hardwood base with inlaid silver wirework, circa 1780-1810, slight chip to front right hoof Provenance: Purchased by the current owner circa 1981 from a Kent antiques dealer who reputedly acquired it from the estate of a local naval family. Much about the posture and detail of the present work is reminiscent of the famous Atterbury Jade Buffalo (see Bonhams, New Bond Street 12 May 2016, lot 158), which is now securely dated to the 17th century. The new confidence of the Qing dynasty is prominent in the present work, and it is tempting to suggest that the alert pose of the horse reflects the fears of the later Ming governments under pressure from the Manchus. The heavily mottled "cloud jade" from which this horse is carved reflects the scarcity of good quality jade during the period. Already by the 17th century large pieces of high grade jade were no longer to be found in central and north western China, having been heavily mined during the Archaic period. Access to new supplies would not be possible until the Xinjiang region was brought under firm control in 1759. These large scale animal sculptures are often assumed to be commissions for imperial clients, and whilst the rarest, purest material may have been reserved for the Emperor, other large scale pieces in slightly lesser material could have been commissioned by other members of the imperial family or the highest ranking court officials. Literature: See J.C.S.Lin, The Immortal Stone: Chinese jades from the Neolithic period to the twentieth century , Cambridge, 2009 and Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing , British Museum, 1995 for a more detailed account of jade carvings. (1)
A large and impressive jade carving of a horse, probably Chongzhen period, 17th century, carved pale-grey nephrite jade with black mottling and ochre rivering, modelled as a recumbent horse with its forelegs and hind legs elegantly tucked under its body, the tail sweeps to the right side and head, alert with ears pricked, turned back, a semi-circular forelock, neatly incised, gives way to a centrally parted short mane which falls in carved and incised locks over the neck, 172 x 242mm, together with a slightly later carved hardwood base with inlaid silver wirework, circa 1780-1810, slight chip to front right hoof Provenance: Purchased by the current owner circa 1981 from a Kent antiques dealer who reputedly acquired it from the estate of a local naval family. Much about the posture and detail of the present work is reminiscent of the famous Atterbury Jade Buffalo (see Bonhams, New Bond Street 12 May 2016, lot 158), which is now securely dated to the 17th century. The new confidence of the Qing dynasty is prominent in the present work, and it is tempting to suggest that the alert pose of the horse reflects the fears of the later Ming governments under pressure from the Manchus. The heavily mottled "cloud jade" from which this horse is carved reflects the scarcity of good quality jade during the period. Already by the 17th century large pieces of high grade jade were no longer to be found in central and north western China, having been heavily mined during the Archaic period. Access to new supplies would not be possible until the Xinjiang region was brought under firm control in 1759. These large scale animal sculptures are often assumed to be commissions for imperial clients, and whilst the rarest, purest material may have been reserved for the Emperor, other large scale pieces in slightly lesser material could have been commissioned by other members of the imperial family or the highest ranking court officials. Literature: See J.C.S.Lin, The Immortal Stone: Chinese jades from the Neolithic period to the twentieth century , Cambridge, 2009 and Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing , British Museum, 1995 for a more detailed account of jade carvings. (1)
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
