A PALE CELADON AND RUSSET CARVED JADE DEER AND BAT GROUP
Ming/Qing Dynasty, 17th century
The finely carved deer is depicted in a recumbent pose with its legs neatly tucked beneath its body. Its head is turned to its left looking towards a bat resting on its hind, carved in openwork and high relief.
Its eyes rounded in appearance with its eyelids protruding from its forehead. Its delicate four-pronged antlers rest above its small upward curling ears. Its sharp spine is highlighted by a multitude of small tool marks to give the appearance of coarse hair. Its
tail lobbed and finishing at a rounded point facing towards the underside. Splashes of the pebble’s natural skin have been used to elaborate the patternation of the animal.
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The deer in Chinese art is a homophone for “emolument” and the bat is a pun for “blessings”. The two depicted together signifies the meaning “May your blessings and emolument be complete”.
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The stone is of pale celadon tone with russet inclusions.
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Length: 7.5 cm, 3 Ì‹ Inches
Provenance: Private European Collection