18th century The mythical beast finely carved recumbent with its head turned back to the left, its clasped jaws holding a spray of lingzhi fungus supported on its back and surmounted by a pile of books, tian shu, the raised head with bulging round eyes below finely-incised eyebrows, the pair of horns resting on its neck flanking the mane, the haunches well delineated with scales, the bushy tail flicked across the right rear haunch, the finely-carved legs and hooves tucked underneath, the stone of pale green tone with very minor pale and russet inclusions, wood stand. 10cm (4in) long. (2).