Carved as a recumbent bear with its four paws tucked beneath the body, the head slightly raised and turned forward. The features are sensitively rendered, with carefully defined eyes and ears. The stone is of an even celadon tone with a soft polish.
A celadon jade carving of a bear
Description
Ming dynasty, 16th/17th century
Dimensions: 8.6 cm long
Provenance:
A private Swedish collection
A private American collection
Christie’s Paris, 6 July 2022, lot 111
Carved as a recumbent bear with its four paws tucked beneath the body, the head slightly raised and turned forward. The features are sensitively rendered, with carefully defined eyes and ears. The stone is of an even celadon tone with a soft polish.
Small animal carvings of this type were valued for their material qualities and subtle symbolism. The Asian black bear, associated with strength and resilience, is less commonly depicted, adding to the appeal of the present example. The restrained carving reflects the late Ming preference for naturalistic, hand-held objects that emphasise the beauty of the stone.
