A PALE CELADON JADE 'BUFFALO AND QILIN' GROUP, QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

The pale celadon nephrite with areas of russet inclusions. Excellent surface finish.

China, Qianlong Period (1736-1795)

Masterfully carved in the round as a recumbent water buffalo, its head turned to the right to face a small cub-like qilin. The buffalo exhales a cloud of smoke supporting its front hoofs as well as the qilin. The details of both animals finely rendered, the buffalo is highly realistic with ridged horns, incised facial features and bold ridges indicating the animal's ribs.
It has been suggested that jade figures such as these were based on the ceramic and bronze water droppers in the shape of a buffalo with a boy seated on its back that were popular during the Yuan period. For this opinion, see literature comparison below.

Shape: Natural
Dimensions: Length 11,2 cm
Weight: 495 grams
Condition: Perfect condition
Provenance: Hungarian private collection

Literature comparison: Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, page 371

Auction results comparison: Important Chinese Jades from the Personal Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman. Christies, Hong Kong, 28 November 2006, lot 1428. (for a very similar piece)

”牛生麒麟”清白玉，乾隆年間(1736-1795年)
清白和田玉，褐色沁，表面極度平滑磨光
中國，乾隆時期(1736-1795年)
鬼斧神工的刀法刻劃出臥坐的金牛，面對著小麒麟，吐出雲霧般的氣息。細膩的雕法將牛與麒麟的互動表現的栩栩如生。
具推斷，臥牛系列玉器受到元時期，相當流行的”牧牛童子”陶瓷及青銅水滴所影響。
形狀：渾然天成
尺寸：長度11.2厘米
重量：495克
品相完美
匈牙利私人收藏
文獻參考：見Jessica Rawson著《從新石器時代到清代的中國玉器集》，倫敦，1995年，第371頁
類似拍品：見佳士得，《收藏家Alan及Simone Hartman的重要中國玉石》，香港，2006年11月28號，1428號拍品。