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- 65 Feline with Cub
greyish white jade with brown marking, length 7 cm Ming
McElney Collection
Feline animal with head turned back to face cub on its back. It has finely detailed claws and striated hair tufts and tail on back.
66 Bird
greyish white jade with russet markings, length 7 cm Ming
McElney Collection
Bird, its shape partly following the contours of the original stone. The russet markings fit well into the fully incised feather pattern. The eyes are nicely marked; legs and claws are depicted in relief on the bottom side.
67 Duck with Water Weeds
white jade with russet markings, length 5.5 cm Ming
McElney Collection
Duck with head turned back holds water weeds in its beak. The motif of an animal holding a plant in its mouth or beak can be traced back at least to the Tang. In the Ming period, jade carvers used this de�vice to emphasize the contours of birds and fish.
68 Boy
green jade, height 7.5 cm Ming or later Dyer Collection
Boy dressed in loose pants and short jacket, wear�ing an amulet around his neck, stands on one leg as if dancing. His hair is done in two hair tufts; his raised head shows a happy expression.
69 Fish
greenish white jade, height 10.5 cm, length 20.5 cm Ming
Dyer Collection
Large carving of a fish which has been depicted with great economy of means; the details of fins, tail and head are simply incised; there is an oval�shaped opening on the back. Ming jades can be compact and bulky like this fish.
70 Ring with Two Birds and Fungus
beige white jade with brown and black markings,
diameter 6.5 cm
Ming
McElney Collection
Ring surmounted by two nicely rendered birds and longevity fungus (lingzhi). Good use of colour, con�trasting dark figures against white jade ring. The motifs probably represent a rebus.
71 Bi-disc with Zhi Dragons
pale greenish white jade, diameter 9.5 cm Ming
Dyer Collection
Plain bi-disc decorated with four zb/'-dragons, one climbs through the central perforation, the three others are crouching low on the outer perimeter, looking in different directions; they all have sweep�ing tails that bifurcate into two coiling branches and C-scrolls on their haunches.
72 Seal with Zhi Dragon
white jade, length 4.3 cm Ming (1565)
McElney Collection
Rectangular signature seal is surmounted by a zhi dragon, whose sinuous body winds around the loop handle. An inscription on the side gives a date of 1565 and is signed by Wen Peng (1489-1573), son of the famous Ming artist, Wen Zhenming. Wen Peng was an artist and seal carver in his own right.
73 Knob of Mandarin Duck with Lotus
white jade with slight brown markings, length 4.6 cm Middle - late Ming McElney Collection
Perhaps a knob for a vessel. Its shape is of a man�darin duck holding an openwork lotus flower stem in its bill. A very similar knob was found in Ming emperor Wanli�s tomb.
74 Boy with a Gourd in a Plantain Leaf
beige white jade flecked with brown, height 5.2 cm Late Ming McElney Collection
Irregular-shaped pebble used to its maximum ad�vantage to depict a boy with gourd wrapped in a plantain leaf. The boy has a round face and hair tufts; the leaf has incised veins.
75 Two Boys (He He Er Xian)
pale green jade, height 5.1 cm Ming or later Dyer Collection
Two boys, one holding a lotus flower over his right shoulder, playing with a brocaded and ribboned ball; the other boy has a brocade ball hanging on his back. The faces are well formed; the brocade balls have an incised coin pattern; the loose fitting jackets have little incised stars.
The depiction of two young boys with a joyful air, a frequently used decorative motif, is associated with the idea of harmony. They are known under the name he he er xian�harmonious immortal pair. They symbolize agreement and harmony.
76 Female Figure
pale greenish white jade with slight brown mark�ings, height 11.4 cm Late Ming - early Qing McElney Collection
Elongated female figure of the type found on seven�140
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