Adam's Fine Asian Art 23 November 2021

8 A WHITE JADE ‘HYDRA DRAGON AND PHOENIX’ PLAQUE / PENDANT / PEI MOUNTED AS A BROOCH WITH A GOLD PLAQUE The jade: China, Qing Dynasty The mount: Presumably France, 20th century The dragon depicted with a coiled and curvy body, its head, turned towards its back, is facing a phoenix, with incised / engraved details. With an auction house’s label attached to it reading: “HOTEL DES VENTES NICE RIVIERA 15”. Two hallmarks, one to the brooch, one to the pin, possibly a horse face. L: 7 cm - w: 3,6 cm Gross weight: 32 grams Note: Interestingly, the mount has been tailored-made. Indeed the plaque is matching the shape of the dragon, thereby not being vis- ible when the brooch is worn. It bears an hallmark, likely a dog head. 金镶白玉“龙凤”胸针 白玉部分：中国，清代 装饰部分：推测为20世纪法国 € 600 - 800 9 A LARGE JADEITE JADE CARVING OF A ‘HEAVENLY HORSE’, TIAN MA 天馬 China, Attributed to Qing Dynasty Carved out of a white, apple green and emerald green stone with a figure of a recumbent celestial horse amidst curly clouds or crashing waves, the mane and the clouds carved as locks finely detailed with incisions, a parcel or bound books on its back. H: 10,1 cm – L: 13,3 cm – w: 3,3 cm Weight: 815,5 grams Note: 1. This horse is depicted carrying books while crossing the sea. It is known as the Tian Ma ( 天馬 ), lit. “Heavenly Horse”, also referred to as the Long Ma ( 龍馬 ), lit. “dragon horse”, i.e. an auspicious creature that according to legend emerged from the Luo River revealing itself to Fuxi ( 伏羲) , one of the three legendary sovereigns of ancient China. 2. For a related jade carving of a mythical horse carrying books on its back while crossing the sea dated to the mid Qing dynasty and preserved in the Qing Court Collection, see “The Complete Collection of Treasures in the Palace Museum: Jadeware (III)”, Hong Kong, 1995, p.110, no.90. 3. For a related pale green jade example of a longma carrying books across waves dated to the 18th century, please refer to Christie’s New York, The United States of America, “Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part I and Part II Including Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections”, 2011/03/24, lot 1507, sold for USD242.500 BP incl. 翡翠玉雕“天马” 中国，晚清时期 € 1,000 - 2,000