AN EXCEPTIONAL WHITE AND BLACK JADE BIXIE YUAN / MING DYNASTY

superbly carved recumbent with its head sharply turned to the left, with raised snout, gentle eyes, curling eyebrows and two small ears flanking a finely combed mane, its body naturalistically articulated with a ribbed sinuous spine prolonged by a bushy tail flipping over its muscular haunch, the yellowish-white stone elegantly accented with patches of dark brown and finished to an oily polish

Sydney L. Moss Ltd, London.
Collection of Mr. Brodie and Enid Lodge.

The carving is in very good condition with a fine polish.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This carving is outstanding for its exquisite workmanship, successfully capturing a sense of life and animation. Deftly carved in the round, the elongated snout, curling eyebrows that frame subtly bulging eyes and the gentle crouching position of this creature evoke a child-like, almost inquisitive, spirit and suggest an early Ming attribution. Sensitively rendered details, as seen in the paws and finely combed mane and tail, add to its charm while the dark inclusions have been masterfully incorporated to suggest a sense of mischievousness.

Compare a mythical creature similarly fashioned with a long snout, included in the exhibition, Chinese Jades from Han to Ch’ing, Asia House Gallery, New York, 1980, cat. no. 58; another sold at Christie’s New York, 2^nd June 1989, lot 295; and another carved with its young, sold at Christie’s New York, 2^nd February 1989, lot 224.

Brodie Lodge, the inventor of the Lodge spark plug, and his wife, Enid, assembled their collection between 1940 and 1960 with the assistance of the late Sotheby’s director James Kidell. Kidell introduced the Lodges to Roger Bluett and the late Sydney Moss who helped the couple form a wonderful collection of Chinese ceramics and works of art. Inspired by the colour and form of the Chinese palette and style, their collection was widely regarded as one of the finest in Europe and featured in the 1948 Exhibition of Oriental Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and at the Oriental Ceramic Society.