明 黃玉瑞獸

skilfully rendered in the round in the form of a crouching mythical beast, the figure portrayed alert with piercing globular eyes above a well-defined snout and finely incised beard falling to its chest, all below stylised floppy ears, the rounded bodily contours highlighted with a defined backbone terminating in a bushy tail sweeping up against the haunches and body, the lustrous warm yellow stone extensively mottled with dark russet patches, wood stand

《金木水火土：香港文物收藏精品展》，香港藝術館，香港，2002年

The figure is in good condition with just a couple of extremely minute bruises barely visible to the naked eye. The catalogue illustration is very slightly redder than the actual colour of the stone.
"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."

黃玉質，局部褐色沁斑，立體圓雕。瑞獸前腿前伸，後腿臥於腹下。雙眼凸圓，鬍鬚垂胸，縮頸前視，獅鼻闊口，雙耳貼頭，長尾從臀部向前彎曲，背出脊線，四肢健壯有力。

此瑞獸砣碾剛勁有力，立體感強，堪稱佳品。

此器體現了明朝雕琢瑞獸的風格特徵，如帶沁斑的質料、特意仿古造型、誇張的特徵、捲曲的尾巴。部分玉雕造型源自當代墨模雕刻圖譜集《程氏墨苑》，顯示了能工巧匠能由平面轉化為立體雕刻的功力。

類似黃玉例，面部稍傾左側，原為 Gerald Godfrey 所藏，售於香港佳士得1995年10月30日，編號866。另一例為 Philip Pinsof 伉儷所藏，曾展於東方陶瓷學會，《Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages》，維多利亞與艾伯特博物館，倫敦，1975年，編號376。