A rare pale green jade carving of a horse, Late Ming Dynasty

Lot 55. A rare pale green jade carving of a horse, Late Ming Dynasty; 8.3cm (3 1/2in) wide. Estimate HK$40,000-60,000. Sold for HK$ 212,500 (€ 25,390). Photo Bonhams.

Naturalistically carved standing on rockwork, its head extended forward with a hairy mane running down the neck, its bushy tail falling gently at the end, the stone of a pale green tone streaked with russet brown inclusions. 

Note: Unlike the more conventional carvings of horses in the Qing dynasty that are depicted in a recumbent position, the horse of the present lot is carved standing, showcasing its powerful and sinewy muscles. This depiction of a standing horse is related and likely inspired by the Tang dynasty stone and ceramic horses which are typically and stylistically bold and powerful.

Small jade animal carvings are generally rendered reclining or seated, in order to follow the form of jade pebbles and generate minimal wastage of the precious raw material. A standing horse in contrast, requires a much larger stone and demands many more hours of manpower to achieve the final result. Skilfully fashioned, the craftsman of the present lot has evidently also put much thought into the production process, utilising the natural russet tones of the stone to highlight details such as the mane, underside of the belly and rockwork.

See more literature on jade carvings of horses and published examples in the British Museum, London, illustrated by J.Rawson, Chinese Jade: From the Neolithic to the Qing, Chicago, 1995, pp.371-373, pls. 26:15 and 26:16.

Bonham's. The Sze Yuan Tang Collection of Chinese Jades, Hong Kong, 5 April 2016