A white jade horse, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century. Photo Sotheby's

carved recumbent with its legs tucked underneath its body, the tail curled alongside its rear haunches, its head turned to its left, detailed with rounded eyes, flaring nostrils, a pronounced jaw and a neatly combed mane, the stone of an even white tone; 12cm., 4 ¾ in. Estimation 40,000 — 60,000 GBP

Provenance: Collection of Professor R.W. Jackson, acquired in the early 1970s.
Troubetzkoy Collection.

Skilfully fashioned in the round, this horse has been sensitively rendered with gentle facial features that contrast with its broad smooth body. Small jade animal carvings such as the present, generally rendered in a reclining or seated pose to follow the form of jade pebbles and thus result in minimal wastage of the precious stone, were made for the scholar’s studio and used as paperweight.

A smaller horse of this type, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Yang Boda, Chinese Jades throughout the Ages, vol. 12, Hong Kong, 1997, pl. 52; one was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th October 2010, lot 2798; and another of slightly larger size, from the Avery Brundage collection and the Moy Ying Ming Gallery, was sold at Christie’s London, 19th September 2007, lot 73. Compare also a carving of a horse attributed to the Yuan dynasty, modelled in a similar reclining position, included in the exhibition Chinese Jade. The Image from Within, Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena, 1986, cat. no. 146.

Since the Tang Dynasty the horse has represented strength, wealth and rank. Also associated with official aspirations, carefree horses were symbolic of officials free from their daily duties and routine.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. London, 14 mai 2014 - http://www.sothebys.com/