A SUPERBLY CARVED AND EXTREMELY RARE WHITE AND RUSSET JADE FIGURE OF A BEAR WESTERN HAN DYNASTY

exquisitely worked in the round as a crouching bear, the animal portrayed with an alert gaze above a well-pronounced snout, the head flanked by a pair of ears formed with S-shaped ridges extending along the beast's jaws and detailed with fine incisions repeated along the legs and tail simulating fur, the muscular body further skilfully rendered with a well-defined outline and depicted with curved claws and firm paws, the translucent and lustrous stone of a warm pale green colour accentuated with attractive russet skin

Good condition, with just minor surface wear and patches of calcification. Possibly polished at some stage.
"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."

Carved in the round from white jade with patches of russet skin, this amply-proportioned bear has large eyes, ears pulled back, a thick neck, and a hanging abdomen that almost touches the ground. Whether recumbent, standing, or strolling, it has a lovely pose of leisure and ease.

The jade bear is depicted bending its body and stretching its neck, tilting its head slightly to the right. Its surface polished throughout, with a small number of short, finely incised lines depicting hair. Its realism is comparable to that of a white jade bear excavated from the ruins of the temple of the Weiling Mausoleum of Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty in Xianyang, Shaanxi. See Liu Yunhui, Shaanxi chutu Handai yuqi [Han dynasty jades excavated in Shaanxi], Beijing and Taipei, 2009, p. 272. The present work is slightly smaller than the Weiling example, which measures 8 cm in length and 4.8 cm in height. The latter is carved from green jade with black spots and large areas of brown patina. The present jade bear has a larger mouth than the Weiling example, as well as differently rendered eyes and paws.