A PALE CELADON AND RUSSET JADE HORSE, LATE MING PERIOD China, late 16th to mid-17th century. Skillfully worked in the form of a recumbent horse turning its head sharply, the left front leg raised, its right hooves tucked beneath its body, the left hind hoof completely disappearing under his back, tail and mane finely detailed with incisions. Provenance: From the personal collection of Anthony du Boulay. By repute acquired at Christie's, London. Anthony du Boulay served at Christie's from 1949 to 1980, for many years as the Director of the Ceramics Department and for 13 years as the President of Christie's, Geneva. From 1981, he served as Honorary Adviser on Ceramics to the National Trust, United Kingdom, on council of the Oriental Ceramic Society and as the Chairman of the French Porcelain Society. Condition: Extensive wear from many years of handling, with some areas such as the right ear or the left eye particularly worn. As a result, the naturally grown patina is strikingly beautiful. Some minor natural fissures in the stone. Weight: 101.4 g Dimensions: Length 7 cm The polished stone of pale celadon color is accentuated with russet veins cleverly used to pick out the horse's fur. It is notable for the portrait-quality in which it has been sensitively rendered. Its gentle smiling features and full rounded body have been endowed with a certain individuality, primarily through the jade stone from which it has been fashioned. Auction result comparison: Compare with a jade horse of 8 cm length, similarly worn, made from mottled brown and yellow jade, from the Ming dynasty, at Christies New York in Fine Chinese Ceramics, Jades and Works of Art, 19 September 2007, lot 59, sold for USD $11,875. 青白玉臥馬雕，晚明 中國，十六世紀末至十七世紀中期。臥馬頭部後仰，左前腿抬起，右蹄藏在身體下方，左後蹄完全藏於他的背部之下，尾巴和鬃毛遺失，可見切口。 來源： Anthony du Boulay個人收藏。據説購於倫敦佳士得。Anthony du Boulay 于1949-1980年間為佳士得工作，曾多年為陶瓷部主任，后又曾任13年日内瓦佳士得主席。1981年起他曾任英國陶瓷信托名譽顧問、東方陶瓷協會理事以及法國陶瓷協會主席。 品相：經過多年使用，大面積磨損，尤其是右耳和左眼等部位。自然包漿非常美麗。石頭中有一些小的自然裂縫。 重量：101.4 克 尺寸：長7 厘米