A SMALL AMBER JADE CARVING OF A PARROT SONG DYNASTY OR EARLIER

well carved as a small parrot resting on its webbed feet tucked underneath its body, its plumage defined with fine lines, the facial features, the open beak and crest well detailed, the stone of a warm amber tone mottled with burnet inclusions and with a smooth and waxy finish

Exquisite Jade Carving, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1996, cat. no. 69.

The ends of the tail have old chips, but the overall condition is very good. The actual colour of the piece is slightly less orange than in 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."

The subtle lines of the feathers and webbed feet that successfully complement the deeper curves of the wings and crest of the present piece highlight the proficiency of the Song jade carver in their medium. Chiefly found in Southern China, the parrot is held in high regard and has a long history in Chinese art, becoming a popular subject in the gold and silver work of the Tang period. In the annals of the Ying Yai, ambassadors from Java were recorded as arriving at Ningbo (formerly Mingzhou) in 992 AD with tributes of ivories, shells, pearls and parrots.

Compare an earlier example attributed to the Tang dynasty in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Jadeware II, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 9; and a Ming example included in the exhibition Chinese Jade Animals, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1996, cat. no. 164. Parrots are also found depicted with a peach, for example see a jade carving dated to the early Qing dynasty, sold at Christie's New York, 28^th March 1996, lot 9; and another attributed to the Song or Ming period, sold at Christie's London, 13^th June 1990, lot 409.