A CHINESE AQUAMARINE RECUMBENT MYTHICAL BEAST, PROBABLY A QILIN, 19TH CENTURY, QING DYNASTY (1644-19

拍品描述

A CHINESE AQUAMARINE RECUMBENT MYTHICAL BEAST, PROBABLY A QILIN, 19TH CENTURY, QING DYNASTY (1644-1911) Carved from pale aquamarine of translucent blue-green tone, this small recumbent mythical beast is worked in compact form, the body rounded and low-set, with the head turned slightly and the limbs tucked close beneath. The stone’s natural internal veining and mineral inclusions enliven the surface, catching the light within the polished contours and giving depth to the carved form. The creature is modelled with curled and ridged details across the body, the carving combining smooth rounded passages with incised and relief-worked ornament. The head is expressive, with prominent facial features and scrolling elements that suggest a fantastical rather than naturalistic animal, while the body is treated with stylised motifs that enhance its talismanic character. Identified as probably a qilin, the beast belongs to a long Chinese tradition of auspicious mythical creatures associated with benevolence, protection and good fortune. The qilin, often described as a composite animal, appears in Chinese art as a symbol of virtue, prosperity and auspicious arrival, and was frequently adapted into jade, hardstone and other precious-material carvings for the scholar’s table or personal enjoyment. The use of aquamarine gives the object a distinctive delicacy, differing from the more commonly encountered jade or rock crystal carvings while retaining the Qing taste for miniature hardstone works. Its small scale suggests an object intended for close handling and appreciation, where the translucency of the stone and the intricacy of the carving could be admired at intimate range. A finely worked Qing dynasty aquamarine carving, notable for its translucent material, compact recumbent form and auspicious mythical subject. Length: 3.2cm

图片