A remarkable museum quality figure of a seated hound, conveying a delightful sense of movement and life. The attentive animal, with head slightly raised and with a collar and jingle, is looking ahead with great focus.. The work to the raised spine, ribcage, floppy ears, snout and tail is soft and beautifully rendered.
The beautiful green translucent celadon is enhanced with russet-colored areas to the head, paws and hindquarters. The artisan has used the skin of the rock to great effect. With a fine even polish and in superb condition, this is a truly delightful piece.
A near-identical (but slightly smaller) hound was featured in the seminal 1996 "Chinese Jade Animals" exhibition at the Hong Kong Art Museum and attributed to the Tang Dynasty. Indeed this piece could even be the partner to the 1996 exhibit. In the exhibition catalogue the case is made for the Tang attribution but points out that the rare delicate and sensitive execution is of such a quality that a Song Dynasty attribution "should not be dismissed".
Tang or Song Dynasty (618-1279).
4" in length, weighing 90g, with a custom silk-lined box.
Provenance: ex-The White Collection, Hong Kong
