A pale celadon jade carving of a water buffalo and boy
17th century
The recumbent beast carved with its head turned towards its right hind side, the curved ridged horns resting on its back, the nose with a twist-rope held by a smiling boy riding astride the buffalo's back, holding a whip or fly-whisk in his other hand, the stone of pale celadon tone with russet inclusions. 10.2cm (4in) wide.
The recumbent beast carved with its head turned towards its right hind side, the curved ridged horns resting on its back, the nose with a twist-rope held by a smiling boy riding astride the buffalo's back, holding a whip or fly-whisk in his other hand, the stone of pale celadon tone with russet inclusions. 10.2cm (4in) wide.
Sold for
£30,000
inc. premium
Footnotes
- Provenance: an English private collection
According to the family, purchased in the early 20th century and thence by descent.
Compare a related greyish-green jade carving of a boy on water buffalo, dated to the Ming Dynasty, illustrated by Chung Wah-pui, Chinese Jade Animals, Hong Kong, 1996, Catalogue no.154, where the author notes that the subject of a boy on a buffalo probably makes its first appearance in the paintings of the Song Dynasty, and becomes very popular in other art media including jade carving during the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Category: Asian Art / Chinese Works of Art
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