A fine white jade 'apsara' plaque


Ming DynastyCarved in openwork as an Immortal figure floating elegantly wearing a bodice, holding in both hands a flower spray, the head detailed with two hair knots, the semi-translucent stone of an even white tone, box. 6.5cm (2 1/2in) long (2).
|明 白玉飛天童子Provenance:Durwin Tang Collection來源：鄧德雍收藏The design of flying boys in connection with the present lot were transformations of the earlier forms of flying celestial deities, but with a more rounded face and the absence of the scrolling clouds underneath the figure. See a related example of a jade flying boy, Ming dynasty, in the British Museum, illustrated by J.Rawson, Chinese Jades from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, p.372, no.25:8.飛天形象源自早期佛教藝術，晚期飛天人物則面部較為圓潤，往往不飾飄帶，一如本件飛天童子所示。參考大英博物館所藏一件明代玉雕飛天童子，載於J.Rawson著《Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing》，倫敦，1995年，頁372，編號25:8。