A BROWN AND WHITE JADE CARVING OF A BOY YUAN DYNASTY

the creamy white stone suffused with brown inclusions, carved as a crawling infant boy with a broad smiling face, dressed in an apron incised with a lozenge diaper, the head with two tight curls on either side, looking back over the shoulder and draped with flowing scarves, wood stand

There is some surface pitting and wear to the stone (visible in the catalogue illustration). The carving also has some occasional nicks including a small 6 mm chip to the edge of the veil billowing below the boy's right ankle. The actual colour of the stone and natural veining is quite close to the illustration in the catalogue.
"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 flying figure of a boy with scarf on clouds is a Yuan transformation of a Liao-Jin tradition of flying figures with wings. This design persisted into the Ming Dynasty. Compare a similar jade of a boy with a flowing scarf from the Yuan-Ming period in the Chih-jou Collection, illustrated in James Watt, Chinese Jades from Han to Ch'ing, The Asia Society, New York, 1980, p. 116, pl. 99.