明 黃玉巧色臥馬

the stone of a pale celadon tone streaked with russet-brown veining, deftly carved as a reclining animal with its head turned towards its tail, detailed with alert eyes of almond shape and well-groomed mane, its body elegantly curved, with the muscular legs tucked under the belly, and its bushy tail curled alongside its right hind leg

香港蘇富比1981年5月20日，編號886

Gerard Tsang 及 Hugh Moss，《文玩萃珍》，香港大學馮平山博物館，香港，1986年，編號155

The jade carving is overall in very good condition with a smooth patina. The actual colour is deeper and slightly more greenish compared to the catalogue illustration.
"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."

此黃玉臥馬雕琢靈巧，體態流麗自然，匠人絕藝細工，表露無遺。小巧動物玉雕，或坐或臥，用於文房作鎮紙。近似例可見劍橋大學費茲威廉博物館藏玉馬，載於林政昇，《The Immortal Stone》，倫敦，2009年，圖錄47。同書另載灰青玉雙駿擺件，兩馬相依相偎，定為晚明初清之品，同為鎮紙，編號48。

芝加哥藝術學院藏黃褐玉馬，屬 Sonnenschein 舊藏，載於 Jessica Rawson 及 John Ayers，〈Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages〉，《Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society》，1973-75年，卷40，圖版203a及b，可資比對。另有玉雕臥馬，玉料、風格與本品相近，尺寸略小，原屬 Northwick Park 收藏，售於倫敦佳士得1965年5月24日，編號84。其他類似玉器，還可參考一青玉馬，售於蘇富比1971年12月14日，編號38，以及瑪麗與莊智博舊藏玉馬，售於蘇富比2005年10月23日，編號77。葉義醫生典藏也有一黃玉馬，色略偏青，收錄於敏求精舍展覽《中國玉雕》，香港藝術館，香港，1983年，編號163。同展另有唐代玉馬三件，見編號131-133。這些高古藝作，或曾啟迪後世，引巧思靈感。