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- 53 Mythical Animal
greenish white jade with brown markings, height
4.6 cm
Late Song - early Ming McElney Collection
Seated mythical animal with two horns, detailed hair and eyes. The strongly planed head, overall design and finely incised decorative patterns sug�gest a Song date. There is a perforation between the front feet.
54 Phoenix on Plinth Seal
green jade with brown markings, length 2.9 cm Yuan or earlier McElney Collection
An oval shaped faceted plinth surmounted by a seated phoenix; convex bevelled lines for wing fea�thers; the tail continues on the back side of the plinth, which has a perforation; has many finely incised details for such a small carving.
55 Seven Jade Flowers
greenish white and white jade, smallest: diameter
2.5 cm, largest: diameter 4.6 cm Yuan - Ming McElney Collection
Jade flowers of various types were sewn on cloth�ing or used as part of jewellery (especially hairpins). They vary from simple elegant five-petal designsto intricate flower-and-leaf patterns or splayed flow�ers. The single five petalled prunus flower is known to have existed in the Yuan period.
56 Mythical Animal with Bat
mottled brown and light green jade with brown veins, length 7.1 cm Yuan - Ming McElney Collection
Mythical feline animal with bifurcated tail and beaked face; depiction of a bat on the side. Bats are em�blems of happiness and thus are common decora�tive motifs.
57 Mythical Animal on Cloud Pedestal
pale green jade with brown markings, height 3.5cm Yuan - Ming McElney Collection
Mythical animal with a singular horn standing on all fours; wings emanate from thefront legs. The cloud platform is a common feature of Yuan Daoist art.
58 Unidentified creature
yellow and chestnut brown jade, length 4.4 cm Yuan - Ming McElney Collection
Unidentified creature carved from a pebble; spiral curls on chest and haunches show influence of ar�chaism. It has the size and colour of a roasted chest�nut�a popular colour in the Yuan dynasty.
59 Lion Dog
pale greenish white jade with brown mottling, length
4.2 cm
Ming
Harold and Vera Mortimer-Lamb Bequest
AGGV
Crouching lion dog, head turned to one side. Head has curled manes and finely striated flamelike manes which continue to flow from each side of the smoothly knobbed, curving backbone; spirals deco�rate the haunches.
60 Elephant
green and white mottled jade with brown veining,
length 6.1 cm
Ming
McElney Collection
Carving of an elongated recumbent elephant with trunk to one side. Details for eyes, ears, mouth and hoofs are incised. The striated tail lies against the other side of the body.
61 Fabulous Animal with Owl
pale greenish white jade, length 6.5 cm Ming
McElney Collection
Crouching fabulous animal and owl with outspread wings standing on its back; the detailed wings indi�cated by incisions. The head of the animal has flamed eyebrows, striated hair tufts and a beard. C- scrolls decorate the legs.
62 Rodent
greyish white jade with slight brown markings,
length 5.8 cm
Ming
McElney Collection
Figure of crouching rodent, possibly a squirrel, which gives a sense of impending movement. Nicely modelled spine and tail.
63 Buddhist Lion Dog with Cub
pale celadon and beige jade with brown markings, length 8 cm Ming, 15th century McElney Collection
Relatively large jade carving of a Buddhist lion dog and cub playing with a ribboned brocade ball. Well carved with attention to details of hair, flaming eye�brows, spine and feet. This type of Buddhist lion- dog was popular from the Jin dynasty onwards.
64 Two Dog-like Animals
white jade with brown and black markings, length
5.8 cm
Ming
McElney Collection
Two recumbent dog-like animals fighting over a spray of acanthus and lingzhi fungus. Dogs were a popular motif in Tang art and retained their rela�tive popularity since that time.
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