A SUPERB WHITE AND RUSSET JADE FIGURE OF A BIXIE, HAN TO SIX DYNASTIES

拍品描述

A SUPERB WHITE AND RUSSET JADE FIGURE OF A BIXIE, HAN TO SIX DYNASTIES China, 206 BC-589 AD. Well carved in a dynamic crouching stance balanced on powerful limbs as if ready to leap, the forelimbs extending into gently curved wings, the ridged spine crisply articulated and terminating in a forked tail, the alert head slightly raised, the snout with open mouth showing fangs and teeth, a horn curled behind the pinned-back ears, the mane swept back and the tuft of fur from the chin brushing against the chest. The finely polished translucent stone is of a white tone with pale gray areas, russet patches and veins, and cloudy inclusions. Dimensions: Length 9.4 cm Moving away from the highly stylized depictions of animals in the Shang and Zhou dynasties, artisans of the Han dynasty and Six Dynasties developed a more naturalistic approach to representing animals. This aesthetic was applied to images of both real and mythical creatures, and across artistic mediums. At the same time, lapidary arts flourished, and jade animals of unprecedentedly high quality started to be carved. The present bixie is a superb example of the sculptural practices of the period, and the era's enthusiasm for miraculous creatures that were believed to be portents possessing supernatural power. The iconography of the bixie is closely associated with that of the griffin, popular in the Western Asia and Eurasia steppes, and originated in Mesopotamia in 3000 B.C. Bixie occupies a curious position in Chinese art. It is based on the imagery of a lion, a foreign animal, but has the spirit of a fierce tiger. It is often depicted alongside other exotic animals as artistic backdrops for monumental architectures, especially in the Han dynasty where palaces, temples, shrines and tombs were often decorated with large scale bronze or stone sculptures of Weng Zhong, qilin, tianlu, elephants, camels or horses. Bixie is an important component amongst the array that makes up this subject matter. The tiger most embodies the essence of the bixie. In the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang in his military strategy coined the now well-known term ‘like a tiger added with wings’ to describe a general that excels at deploying his troops. The origin of this phrase can be found in his anthology Zhuge Zhongwuhou wenji, juan 4, edited by Zhang Shu (1781-1847): “Military command is the mandate to lead the three armies, and the authority of the chief commander. A general who has the command of the army and knows the essence of troop deployment to gain the upper hand, is like a fierce tiger that has been given wings and able to travel the four seas, to apply force when he sees fit.” Zhuge Liang’s description of an able general as ‘a tiger added with wings’ is the Han dynasty jade bixie personified. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams New York, 20 March 2023, lot 31 Price: USD 378,375 or approx. EUR 363,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, modeling, and manner of carving, with similar ridged back. Note related size (7 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 22 September 2021, lot 46 Price: USD 107,100 or approx. EUR 113,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, modeling, manner of carving, and stone. Note related size (7 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Zacke Vienna, 12 March 2026, lot 259 Price: EUR 91,000 (for two) Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, modeling, manner of carving, and size (9.1 cm).

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