A BLACK AND WHITE JADE 'CAT AND BUTTERFLY' CARVING MING DYNASTY

carved from a slightly cube-shaped block, in the form of a grinning cat trampling leaves with its feet, clenching a sprig of banana leaves in its mouth, its tail curled alongside its left flank, set with a butterfly on its back, the stone of white tone with patches of black sandwiching on the top and bottom of the animal

Arts from the Scholar's Studio, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1986, cat. no. 70 (and illustrated on the back cover).
Jades from China, The Museum of East Asian Art, Bath, 1994, cat. no. 307.

Apart from a 0.2 cm bruise near the right hind leg of the cat, the overall condition is very good.
"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 carver has cleverly retained the form of the jade stone in the present carving by incorporating the dark colour of the skin and thereby accentuating a sense of determination and playfulness to the cat. Despite the flatness of the top of the stone, the softness traditionally associated with the animal is conveyed through the rounded forms of the cat and butterfly as well as the curved lines of the banana leaf. For another carving of a cat and butterfly, see a white jade example from the Gerald Godfrey collection sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30^th October 1995, lot 832.

The Chinese word for 'cat' (mao) is homophonous with the word for 'age eighty to ninety' and the butterfly (die) for 'age seventy to eighty'; thus these are symbolic of longevity. Such a piece would have been presented as a birthday gift.