西漢 白玉熊

exquisitely worked in the round as a crouching bear, the animal portrayed with an alert gaze above a well-pronounced snout, the head flanked by a pair of ears formed with S-shaped ridges extending along the beast's jaws and detailed with fine incisions repeated along the legs and tail simulating fur, the muscular body further skilfully rendered with a well-defined outline and depicted with curved claws and firm paws, the translucent and lustrous stone of a warm pale green colour accentuated with attractive russet skin

Good condition, with just minor surface wear and patches of calcification. Possibly polished at some stage.
"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."

白玉帶皮，立體圓雕。熊體態肥碩，圓眼炯炯，雙耳後抿，雙唇緊閉，頸粗背後，鬆垂肥腹近與地面，似臥、似立、似悠閒慢步，一副慵懶笨拙憨態，讓人愛不釋手。

玉熊躬身蹲立，探頸往前，頭略傾右側，通體光素，僅以少量的細密短陰線刻表現鬃毛。其寫實造型，與1966年陝西咸陽漢元帝渭陵陵廟遺址出土的白玉熊相近，見劉雲輝，《陝西出土漢代玉器》，北京、台北，2009年，頁272。但體型略小（渭陵玉熊長8、高4.8公分）；玉質為青玉帶黑點，大面積褐沁；五官的處理方式亦不同，例如吻部較渭陵玉熊大，眼睛、爪足的雕刻方式略有差異。