A RARE WHITE AND RUSSET JADE FIGURE OF A MYTHICAL BEAST, HAN TO SIX DYNASTIES

拍品描述

A RARE WHITE AND RUSSET JADE FIGURE OF A MYTHICAL BEAST, HAN TO SIX DYNASTIES China, 206 BC-589 AD. Powerfully carved, the creature depicted kneeling on its left knee while seated upon its bifurcated tail. Its left arm rests upon the corresponding leg, whereas the right arm is raised beside the head in a threatening gesture. The sinuous body rises to a fierce head distinguished by bulging eyes, a prominent snout with a gaping mouth exposing sharp fangs, and pointed ears, between which emerges a curling horn. The finely polished, translucent stone is of a white tone enlivened by russet-brown veins and inclusions. Dimensions: Height 4.6 cm Carved in the round with exceptional mastery, the present jade figure depicts a mythical beast of commanding presence sitting on its tail, and is a tour de force of jade craftsmanship of the Han dynasty. Meticulously articulated throughout, from the tensed claws to the entwined tail, this rare and powerful work belongs to a select group of jade carvings produced between the Han dynasty and the Six dynasties, and stands as a remarkable testament to the spiritual imagination of ancient China. Jade animals of this type have been created and treasured since the Han dynasty, passing through successive generations of collectors largely outside the archaeological record. Only a very small number have been recovered from excavated burial contexts – a circumstance that renders precise dating and attribution particularly challenging. The present carving shares the vigor and iconographic vocabulary characteristic of works from the same era. Compare the similarly expressive, animating treatment of the face in the Eastern Han winged bear vessel excavated from Laohudun, Hanjiang, Jiangsu, published in Gu Fang, The Complete Collection of Jades Unearthed in China, vol. 7, 2005, no. 163. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 4 May 2026, lot 6 Price: HKD 243,200 approx. EUR 27,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, manner of carving, and modeling, particularly the kneeling posture and the fiercely open mouth. Note the different color of the stone and near identical size (4.5 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 30 November 2022, lot 6 Mid-Estimate: HKD 2,150,000 approx. EUR 259,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, manner of carving, and modeling, particularly the kneeling posture and the fiercely open mouth. Note the different color of the stone and similar size (4 cm).

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