A rare pale green jade carving of a Mandarin duck and peony blossoms, Qianlong. Photo: Bonhams

Crisply and carefully carved with neatly-folded clawed feet, a stylised scrolling crest and archaistic C-scrolls on its wings and body, grasping in its beak an elaborate leafy spray issuing three luscious peony blossoms. 16cm (6¼in) long. Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 (€18,000 - 25,000)

Provenance: an English private collection

Notes: Compare the very similar style of carving, including the squared beak and archaistic scroll details on the body, on a pair of Mandarin ducks in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, illustrated by R-Y.Lefebvre d'Argencé, Chinese Jades in the Avery Brundage Collection, Japan, 1977, pl.LXXI.

See also a related Mandarin duck formerly in the Alan and Simone Hartman Collection sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 November 2011, lot 3030.

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