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A JADE WATER BUFFALO 18TH CENTURY China. Nephrite of pale celadon color, several russet veins and some white clouds, fine patina. Provenance: American private collection. Condition: Perfect condition. Several natural veins in the mineral, as visible on the photos.
Weight: 376 grams. Dimensions: Length 12.8 cm.
The water buffalo is naturalistically shown in a recumbent position, with its head slightly raised. A finely incised rope is threaded through its welldetailed small nostrils and draped over its pronounced spine. A Chinese douli bamboo hat has been left to rest on the buffalo’s back. The carving shows the legs tucked beneath the full, rounded body with the tail flicked to one side, large eyes, the ears well hollowed beneath the pair of massive, ridged horns curved back onto the neck. While the subject of ‘water buffalo and boy’ is quite common among 18th century jade carvings, the present witty variation with only the farm boy’s douli remaining on the buffalos back seems to be rarer. Compare with ‘Chinese Jades from Han to Qing’, Asia House Gallery, New York, 1980, lots 46, 47 and 48 for various jade models of water buffalos and ‘Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art’, Christies, London, 13 May 2014, lot 149 for a similar, slightly larger water buffalo.
十八世紀玉雕水牛 中國。青白玉，局部褐色紋理與白色絮狀，包漿細膩。 來源：美國私人收藏 品相：品相完美，玉石内有幾處天然肌理裂縫。 重量： 376 克 尺寸： 長 12.8 厘米
Estimate EUR 700,Starting price EUR 350,-
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