A SMALL WHITE AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF A BIXIESong Dynasty or laterWorked from a white and russet pebble, depicted prowling with the left front leg striding forward and the head gently turned to the left, the mythical beast portrayed with a long curved horn and a pair of wings extending from the front haunches, the muscular body terminating with a long curled tail.4.8cm (1 7/8in) longProvenance: 宋或以後 白玉帶皮雕辟邪The carving is outstanding for its exquisite workman, successfully capturing a sense of life and animation. Deftly carved in the round, the curling eyebrows that frame subtly bulging eyes and the gentle crouching position of this creature evoke an inquisitive spirit. Sensitively rendered details, as seen in the face and wings, together with the masterfully incorporated russet inclusions, add to its charm. The iconography first appeared in jade carvings in the Western Han dynasty, see a jadebixie illustrated inZhongguo Meishu Quanji plete Volumes on Fine Chinese Art] 9 Jade, Beijing, 1986, pls.171 and 174.Compare a celadon and russet jade carving of a mythical beast, Song/Ming dynasty, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 4 October 2016, lot 30.此件玉辟邪，張口露齒，四肢半蹲，雙角微豎，雙翼飛張，極為生動而有力。辟邪，是想像中可辟除邪惡，保護生靈或亡者的神獸。雕作帶翼的貓科動物，造形或源自西亞。由考古資料可知，西漢晚期始見玉辟邪的雕琢，著錄於《中國美術全集—9—玉器》，北京，1986年，圖版171、174號。香港佳士得售出一件宋/明青白玉瑞獸可資參考，2016年10月4日，拍品30。