A YELLOW AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF AN EAGLE, LATE SONG TO EARLY MING DYNASTY

拍品描述

A YELLOW AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF AN EAGLE, LATE SONG TO EARLY MING DYNASTY Expert’s note: Jade birds formed an established category by the Han dynasty, and the present toggle finds an early formal precedent in archaic carvings such as the Western Han jade eagle formerly in the Hei-Chi Collection, sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 9 October 2020, lot 94, for HKD 504,000. The ancient avian type is here reinterpreted in a softer, more rounded sculptural language characteristic of the late Song, Yuan, and earlier Ming dynasties. The hooked beak and alert eye retain the vigor of a bird of prey, while the broad wings are resolved into overlapping scrolls and the tail curls tightly against the body. China, circa 13th-15th century. Superbly carved, of flattened form, the avian creature is depicted in a recumbent posture with its legs neatly tucked beneath the body, which extends into a long tail gracefully curving to the left. The wings are folded closely against the torso, while the plumage is crisply rendered in high relief. The head, slightly raised and subtly inclined to the left, conveys an expression of alert awareness, distinguished by an attentive gaze and a sharply hooked beak, all crowned by a flowing crest. The body is pierced vertically from both sides with a small circular aperture for suspension. The finely polished, translucent stone is of an elegant yellow tone with subtle celadon hues, suffused with fine russet veining. Dimensions: Length 7.7 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s London, 6 November 2018, lot 67 Price: GBP 10,625 or approx. EUR 16,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related manner of carving, stone, and form, with a similar vertically pierced aperture. Note the size (5.3 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 24 March 2023, lot 1239 Price: USD 22,680 or approx. EUR 22,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related manner of carving and subject. Note the size (12.4 cm).

图片