A GREY JADE CARVING OF A HORSE YUAN/MING DYNASTY

finely carved in the form of a recumbent horse with its head turned to the left and gently resting on its front hooves, its back haunches tucked tightly under its lower body and the underside revealing its hooved feet, the slender contoured body well defined and the tail curled alongside its left haunch, the pointed ears, muzzle and almond-shaped eyes naturalistically carved in relief, the hair of its mane and tail defined with fine incisions, the smoothly polished stone of a smoky-grey tone dappled with dark inclusions 

The overall condition is very good. The stone has natural black inclusions and minor flaws, but is very well polished and has a fine patina.
"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."

It is rare to find horses carved in this docile recumbent position, with forelegs outstretched and head tilted down, and the present piece is particularly fine for its carefully incised lines of the mane and the perceptively modelled legs. Horses have long been associated with power and wealth in Chinese history.

A similar stocky jade figure of a horse excavated from a Jin dynasty (1115-1234) context in Heilongjiang province is illustrated in Wenwu, 1977, no. 4, pl. 7:2; and another in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Museum, Washington D.C., was included in the exhibition Chinese Jade Animals, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1996, cat. no. 126. See also a white jade version sold in our London rooms, 17^th December 1996, lot 254; and a slightly earlier example, formerly in the collection of Gerald Godfrey, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30^th October 1995, lot 845.