A PALE GREEN AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF A BUDDHIST LION AND CUB Ming Dynasty (2)THE PROPERTY OF A BRITISH FAMILY英國家族藏品A PALE GREEN AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF A BUDDHIST LION AND CUBMing DynastySmoothly carved as a large Buddhist lion with bushy brows and ruyi-shaped snout turning back to gaze at its cub clambering up the larger's rear with bifurcated tail, the paws tucked underneath, the stone of grey-green colour with light russet inclusions, box. 8.5cm (3 2/8in) long. (2).明 太師少師玉把件Provenance: Dr Isaac Newton (d. circa 1982), Livingston, ScotlandBluett & Sons Ltd., LondonSotheby's Hong Kong, 18 May 1989, lot 857Joseph (1938-2005) and Bella (1941-2011) Shapiro, and thence by descent Published and Illustrated: Bluett & Sons Ltd., Dr Newton's Zoo: A Study of post-Archaic Small Jade Carvings, London, 1981, no.23.來源：Isaac Newton博士 (約1982年去世)，利文斯頓，蘇格蘭倫敦古董商 Bluett & Sons Ltd.蘇富比香港，1989年5月18日，拍品編號857Joseph Shapiro (1938-2005)和 Bella Shapiro (1941-2011)舊藏，並由後人保存迄今著錄：Bluett & Sons Ltd.， 《Dr Newton's Zoo: A Study of post-Archaic Small Jade Carvings》， 倫敦， 1981年， 編號23The theme of Buddhist lions appears to have surged in popularity since the Ming dynasty. The depiction of a Buddhist lion and a young cub forms the pun Taishi Shaoshi, which translates as 'May you and your descendant achieve high rank'. See a related example of a pale green jade beast, Ming dynasty, illustrated in Later Chinese Jades Ming Dynasty to Early Twentieth Century from the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, San Francisco, 2007, p.78, no.54. A similar white jade 'Buddhist lion and cub' carving, 17th century, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29 November 2017, lot 3062.sold_price_type: £