A white and russet jade carving of a chimera


Ming DynastyCarved as a mythical beast in a crouching position, its head slightly turned and further detailed with a broad nose, bushy eyebrows and curly mane, its mouth agape exposing the sharp fangs, the muscular body finely carved with feathers and archaistic motifs, its curled tail is flicked to one side, the stone of a greyish white tone with areas of brown inclusions, box. 5.3cm (2 1/8in) long (2).
|明 白玉褐沁瑞獸Provenance:Durwin Tang Collection來源：鄧德雍收藏The design of the present mythical beast was directly inspired by the powerful mythical beasts used as tomb protectors from as early as the Han dynasty. Whilst displaying later features than Han dynasty jade mythical beasts, such as the flat nose and finely detailed curls and spirals, the carver successfully retained the sense of movement and energy through the diagonally extended front leg and the outstretched hind leg.Compare with a closely related white jade chimera, Song-Ming dynasty, illustrated by G.Tsang Chinese Jade Animals, Hong Kong, 1996, no.123.漢代墓葬常見異獸形象以作鎮墓之用，至明代異獸多作瑞獸，往往有祥瑞意。本品鼻端扁平，棱角圓潤，四肢前撲後踞有力，鬃毛蝸旋，筋骨凌然，誠佳作也。 參考一件曾於香港藝術館展出之宋代至明代玉辟邪，氣韻神態和本品頗似，見《中國肖生玉雕》，香港，1996年，編號123。