A jade carving of mythical beast


The recumbent animal depicted with two horns on its dragon-shaped head, feathery wings and a bifurcated tail issuing from a leonine body - all characteristics of a pixiu that that first appeared in Chinese mythology during the Han period; the curving surfaces of gray-green matrix highlighted with delicate line-incised details and polished to a subtle luster, also showing patches of variegated russet hue and some natural surface fissures.6in (15.2cm) long