A RARE YELLOW AND RUSSET JADE FIGURE OF A RECUMBENT MYTHICAL BEAST SOUTHERN SONG DYNASTY

skilfully depicted in a playful forward-crouching pose with the front paws flanking its jaws, the beast portrayed with a pair of floppy ears and globular piercing eyes above a prominent snout, the haunches well rendered with a defined muscular outline, the snout pierced through horizontally for suspension, the lustrous yellow and russet stone with an attractive patina

Collection of Mr and Mrs Richard C. Bull.
The Kirknorton Collection.
The Hei-Chi Collection.

Jade in Chinese Culture, Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, 1990, cat. no. 26.
Chinese Jade Animals, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1996, cat. no. 106.

Brian Morgan, Naturalism and Archaism: Chinese Jades from the Kirknorton Collection, London, 1995, no. 48.
Jiang Tao and Liu Yunhui, Jades from the Hei-Chi Collection, Beijing, 2006, p. 157.

The figure is in overall good condition with just light surface scratches to the underside and natural pitting to the stone.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The playful rendering of this piece is characteristic of Song archaism; for mythical lions similarly carved in the forward-crouching pose, see another, also from the Kirknorton Collection, illustrated in Brian Morgan, Naturalism and Archaism. Chinese Jades from the Kirknorton Collection, London, 1995, no. 46; and another, also from the Hei-Chi Collection, included in Jiang Tao and Liu Yunhui, Jades from the Hei-Chi Collection, op.cit., p. 155 bottom, exhibited in Chinese Jade Animals, op. cit., cat. no. 86, and later sold in these rooms, 8th April 2010, lot 1992.