A WHITE AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF A MAGPIE HOLDING A PLUM BRANCH, LATE MING-QING DYNASTY

拍品描述

A WHITE AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF A MAGPIE HOLDING A PLUM BRANCH, LATE MING-QING DYNASTY China, 17th-18th century. Finely carved as a recumbent bird with its legs neatly tucked beneath the body, the wings delicately rendered and folded closely against the sides, extending into a long tail. The slightly raised head is defined by a pair of almond-shaped eyes and a small, curved beak grasping a blossoming plum branch, the flowers skillfully highlighted utilizing the russet marking of the translucent stone. The jade is of a variegated pale gray and white tone accented with icy inclusions, dark specks, and russet markings. Dimensions: Length 9.2 cm The magpie is a symbol of happiness and a bearer of good news in Chinese tradition, while the blossoming plum signifies the arrival of spring. Together, they evoke the auspicious expression ‘xi shang mei shao’, conventionally interpreted as ‘blissful joy expressed through one's eyes’ through a visual pun linking the magpie and the plum blossom. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams London, 7 June 2021, lot 611 Price: GBP 22,750 or approx. EUR 34,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, modeling, and manner of carving. Note the similar color of the stone with analogous russet patches and size (8.3 cm). Auction Result Comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 21 September 2023, lot 826 Price: USD 113,400 or approx. EUR 115,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related pale greenish-white stone with contrasting russet areas, as well as the similarly accomplished naturalistic carving and finely incised details.

图片