A RARE LARGE BLACK AND GREY JADE WATER BUFFALO EARLY QING DYNASTY

the docile-looking beast carved from a large black and grey boulder with markings similar to that of a real buffalo, depicted seated in a recumbent attitude with head turned to the left, his proud facial features depicted with flaring nostrils and alert eyes, his forehead marked by a large 'cow-lick' tuft of hair growing in a circle, framed by mighty horns curling towards the back of his head, the trumpet-shaped ears and base of the horns finely incised with lines depicting the fur, his thick dewlap extending from his chin towards his chest, the form of the body accentuated by the superbly defined spine extending to the tail that curls around its hind leg, all four hooves boldly carved on the underside, the stone of greyish celadon tone suffused with creamy-white inclusions save for a large black patch on the hind quarters extending to the underside, wood stand

Hall Family Collection, England, since the 1950s.

Apart from a few minor chips to the extremities of the hooves and ears, the overall condition is very good. The stone has natural russet veining and a mottled whitish patches.
"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 reclining buffalo, symbol of strength as well as tranquility, is a classic icon of Chinese painting. Its bucolic aspect evokes the simple and true life in the countryside, and as the reputed mount of the philosopher Laozi, the buffalo also has strong Daoist connotations. Animal sculptures, however, created for pleasure rather than for ritual or burial, are extremely rare in China in any medium.

As a jade artefact, a figure such as this is among the most impressive pieces produced in China since prehistoric times. Exactly when these - in jade terms - 'monumental' animal sculptures were made, is still a matter of debate. The almost excentric choice of material for this and similar buffalos, distinctly coloured and veined, might fit in best with a late Ming (1368-1644) date, while the masculine strength, elegance and simplicity of the sculpting are in tune with stylistic principles of the Kangxi reign (1662-1722).

Comparable figures are known from several fabled collections of the past, many of which are said to have come from the Summer Palace in Beijing. The present piece is perhaps the most 'life-like' of this small group, the unusual colouring of the stone in different tones of buff and grey being reminiscent of the actual animals' skin. The Jacob Goldschmidt buffalo was exhibited at the influential Ausstellung Chinesischer Kunst, Gesellschaft für Ostasiatische Kunst and Preußische Akademie der Künste, Berlin, 1929, cat.no.1085; the Lord Gladwyn buffalo, sold in these rooms, 1st November 1966, lot 47, and now in the collection of Sir Joseph Hotung, was included in the exhibition Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, the British Museum, London, 1995, cat.no.26: 19; the Oscar Raphael buffalo, now in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, formed part of the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1975, together with two other jade buffalos, cat.nos.395-7, one from the collection of Somerset de Chair; the Baron Lionel de Rothschild buffalo, later in the Eckstein collection, was sold twice in these rooms, 19th April 1937, lot 47, and 9th December 1948, lot 111; the Alexander Ionides buffalo, later in the Hotchkis collection, was also sold in these rooms, 20th May 1954, lot 101; and the Bulgari buffalo 11th June 1996, lot 190.  Another buffalo from the Somerset de Chair Collection that sold twice in our London rooms, 18th July 1952, lot 50 and again 9th June 2004, lot 151.