A Superb Yellow Jade 'Horse' Paperweight 17th Century

carved in the form of a recumbent horse turning its head back to nuzzle its left rear hoof, lying on its side with both hind legs turned up, its finely incised tail curled along the length of the lower right leg, the polished yellow stone of even tone with russet inclusions

Christie's London, 21st October 1974, lot 71.
Sotheby's New York, 2nd December 1989, lot 202.
The Mary and George Bloch Collection.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 23rd October 2005, lot 51.

The overall condition is very good and the surface is very well maintained. The colour is very slightly darker than 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 soft rounded contours and impeccably smooth finish of the present carving accentuate the evenness and subtle colouration of the stone, which endow the figure with a befitting warmth and richness. The carver has skilfully blended an exaggerated pose with fleshy rounded forms to create a sense of naturalism and calm to the figure. Horses have long been associated with power and wealth in Chinese history. The style in which this figure has been carved embodies the craftsman’s aim to capture more than the mere physical likeness but also the innate strength of the animal through its deliberately dramatized poses, which invoke a moment of time or a hidden narrative. Such small jade animal sculptures, generally carved in a seated or reclining pose to maximise the full usage of the pebble, were made for the scholar’s studio and used as paperweights.

A related carving, from the collection of Dr Ip Yee, was included in the exhibition Chinese Jade Carving, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1983, cat. no. 163; and two horses in related poses, attributed to the Ming dynasty, were sold in our London rooms, one on 7^th June 1994, lot 104, and the other, from the collection of Lord Arlington, 29^th November 1993 lot 30.

Compare a small reclining figure of a horse attributed to the same period, carved in a similar style from a yellow and russet stone, from the Pine, Water and Stone Retreat collection, included in the exhibition Arts from the Scholar’s Studio, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1986, lot 155, and sold twice in these rooms, 20^th May 1981, lot 886, and 8^th April 2013, lot 133; and another in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, illustrated in James C.S. Lin, The Immortal Stone, London, 2009, pl. 47.