137 - TWO CARVED JADE ANIMALS CHINA

TWO CARVED JADE ANIMALS CHINA Dimensions: Height 2,5 cm Wide 1,5 cm Depth 4,5 cm Weight: 36 grams A pair of small reclining animal carvings in a pale, translucent greenish stone with warmer yellowish areas. Both creatures rest on folded legs, their elongated bodies rounded and smoothly polished, with heads lifted and turned slightly to one side. Shallow incised lines define the faces, ears or horns and the folds of the compact bodies, while small differences in posture give each animal an individual character. The appeal of these carvings lies in the economy of their modelling. Rather than relying on elaborate surface ornament, the maker has used broad, flowing contours to suggest the weight and quiet alertness of resting animals. The softly mottled stone and the contrast between the rounded backs and delicately indicated facial details are particularly effective at this intimate scale.