A RARE AND SUPERBLY CARVED WHITE JADE ‘THREE DOGS’ GROUP QING DYNASTY, EARLY 18TH CENTURY

finely and skilfully worked in the form of two dogs playfully wrestling with each other and a younger cub beside, the larger dog clambering atop the other dog with its front paws perched on the hind legs of the dog beneath, endearingly nuzzling the front paw of its sprawling companion, the younger cub lying beside, each beast superbly rendered with an elongated snout and well-defined nasal bones, furled ears and almond-shaped eyes, the smoothly polished stone of an even white tone, wood stand

Sotheby's London, 17th December 1996, lot 261.
Spink & Son Ltd., London, 1998.

There is a small nick to the left ear of the larger dog and other nibbling along the extremities. The stone has minor russet-brown natural flaws to the ear of the larger dog, and the tail and legs of the dogs.
"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."

Skilfully fashioned in the round, this charming carving is notable for the sensitive modelling of the three dogs, which have been rendered with gentle features that pleasantly contrast with their playful poses. The skill of the carver has been displayed to full effect in the carefully studied and naturalistically captured interlocking bodies. Furthermore, this piece has been fashioned according to the shape of the pebble to prevent unnecessary wastage of the precious material and carved with the same level of care overall so that it can be appreciated from every angle.

Jade carvings of hounds, generally depicted in resting poses, were made from the Tang dynasty onwards and are seldom found in groups of three.  Compare two jade carvings of a pair of dogs sold in our Hong Kong rooms, the first, 20th November 1984, lot 541, and the second, 30th October 1995, lot 932; and another, from the collection of Walter Stein, sold in our New York rooms, 26th February 1982, lot 518. See also a similarly playful carving of three cats, included in the Min Chiu Society exhibition Chinese Jade Carving, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1983, 164; and another of three lions, in the Tianjin Museum, illustrated in Tianjin bowuguan cang yu / Jade Wares Collected by Tianjin Museum, Beijing, 2012, pl. 174.