A large green and russet jade carving of a Bactrian camel, Ming Dynasty. Photo: Bonhams.

The stone of an attractive yellowish hue, formed as an exotic two-humped camel with its head turned to the right and mouth open in a smile above the rough shaggy neck, the long saddlecloth draped between the humps and the legs ending in four cloven hooves tucked underneath the body. 12cm (4 3/4in) wide. Estimate £20,000 - 30,000 (€24,000 - 37,000)

Provenance: an English private collection

The camel was admired and used as a popular subject for art from the Tang dynasty, most notably in the large sancai-glazed pottery models found in tombs, where the association was with trade, wealth and exoticism. By the Ming dynasty, the guardian aspect was most notable in the pairs of large stone carvings guarding the Spirit Paths leading to mausolea of Emperors; see for example the camels lining the Spirit Paths for Emperor Taizu in Nanjing, and the Spirit Path of the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming, outside Beijing, illustrated by A.Falco Howard et al, Chinese Sculpture, Yale, 2006, nos.2.89 and 2.90.

It is interesting to note the similar treatment of the camels rendered in stone and the present lot, carved with the legs bent underneath the solid mass of the body with twin low humps. The size of the present lot, which is unusually large for a Ming carving, also emphasises the high status of this exotic beast. However the ornamental function of the present lot does allow a greater intimacy, as the camel here turns its head to engage with the viewer, and more details are added, such as the beard and the draped saddlecloth.

It is unusual to find a jade camel of this size, although a related slightly larger yellow and brown jade camel from the private collection of Gerald Godfrey was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 October 1995, lot 867.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART, London, New Bond Street, 15 May 2014 -http://www.bonhams.com/