Lot 244 明 青玉帶皮太師少師擺件 | A PALE GREEN AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF LION AND CUB

明 青玉帶皮太師少師擺件 | A PALE GREEN AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF LION AND CUB

Ming Dynasty

GBP 800

GBP 800 - 1200

未知

未知

Ming Dynasty
The pebble crisply carved as a recumbent mythical beast with round eyes and ruyi-snout, finely incised curly hairs extending down the spine to the bushy tail, a young cub clambering atop the back of the head of the larger animal, the stone of pale green tone with light russet patches. 6cm (2 3/8in) wide.
Footnotes
明 青玉帶皮太師少師擺件
The theme of Buddhist lions appears to have gained popularity from the Ming dynasty. The depiction of a Buddhist lion accompanied by a young cub forms the pun Taishi Shaoshi (太師少師) which may be translated as 'Grand Preceptor and Junior Preceptor,' conveying the wish that 'you and your descendant may achieve high rank.' See a related white jade carving of lion and cub, Ming dynasty, in the collection of the Tianjin Museum, illustrated in Jade Wares Collected by Tianjin Museum (天津博物館藏玉), Beijing, 2012, p.192.
Compare with a related pale green and russet jade carving of a mythical beast, Ming dynasty, which was sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 27th November 2018, lot 131.