Hetian Jade Recumbent Dog Hand Piece with Natural Russet Inclusions, Ming Dynasty, 14th-17th Century Ming Dynasty Hetian Jade Auspicious Beast Scholar’s Ornament

拍品描述

Dimensions: 6.5 cm (2.56 inches) in length, 3.5 cm (1.38 inches) in height, and 56.2 grams in weight. This is a 14th-17th century Ming Dynasty Hetian jade dog carving. Condition and Provenance: This piece is carved from dense, milky-white, light blue-green Hetian jade. The natural reddish-brown veins within the jade blend seamlessly, without any artificial dyeing or heat treatment to imitate the patina. The carving depicts a reclining hunting dog with its limbs curled and tail wrapped around its back. The lines are soft and rustic, and the facial features, muscle lines, and paw details are vividly depicted. The flat base allows it to stand stably on any surface. The piece is intact and undamaged, without cracks, defects, repairs, or reshaping. The surface of this jade dog is covered with a thick, even natural patina, with only slight wear from centuries of handling and collecting, and no breaks or flaws. This jade dog initially circulated in an antique jade workshop in Singapore and was acquired in 2026 by a private collector in New Jersey specializing in Ming and Qing dynasty jade. New Jersey, Texas, and Singapore are major international trading centers for Ming and Qing dynasty antique jade carvings. Description: This reclining dog, made of red jade from Hetian jade during the Ming dynasty, is a classic handheld ornament favored by ancient Chinese literati. In traditional Chinese culture, dogs symbolize wealth protection, loyalty, and peace and good fortune; therefore, this type of jade carving was extremely popular among Ming and Qing dynasty literati. The craftsman carved it from a single piece of natural light blue Hetian jade, vividly presenting the reclining dog's posture. The hound's body is soft and flowing, with shallow lines carved along its back, subtly revealing the wrinkles of its skin and the texture of its muscles. Its ears are close to its head, its round eyes gaze calmly forward, and it holds a small bead in its mouth. Its limbs are neatly tucked under its body, and its long tail curls upward and hangs over its back, outlining a lively, gentle, and adorable silhouette. The natural jade is covered with large patches of dark red ochre, unevenly distributed across the head, back, and paws, creating a striking contrast with the light-colored jade base—a highly prized natural feature of antique nephrite. Ming Dynasty jade carving techniques favored simple, rounded lines, abandoning elaborate decorations and relying on flowing, three-dimensional forms and the natural color of the stone to highlight the silky, oily feel of Hetian jade. This hunting dog is of moderate size, easy to handle and rub with one hand, and its flat base also makes it suitable as a tabletop ornament, serving both as a collectible and a static display piece. Over the centuries, continuous handling has created a rich and deep natural patina on this jade carving. It perfectly blends exceptional natural stone coloring, superior nephrite material, and authentic Ming Dynasty carving techniques, remaining intact despite the passage of generations. This piece is considered a representative work of Ming Dynasty folk jade carving and is highly sought after by antique jade collectors in North America and Southeast Asia. It possesses extremely high artistic appreciation value, cultural and folk significance, and stable long-term value preservation potential.

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