A JADE FIGURE OF A RECUMBENT DOG, SONG DYNASTY China, 960-1279. The hound reclining with front paws stretched out under the head, well carved with incised rib cage, tail swept to one side, almond-shaped eyes, the ears laid back. The translucent stone is of an intense russet tone variegating to deep amber along with celadon and yellowish-gray shadings, black speckles, and cloudy white inclusions. Provenance: English private collection. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and few minuscule nicks, the stone with natural fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks over time. Weight: 34.6 g Dimensions: Length 6.8 cm The motif of a hound is usually associated with fidelity, high rank, and status in Chinese culture. Early representations of jade dogs were probably linked to the identity and aspirations of particular individuals. For example, jade hounds may have been worn by hunters. See J. Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, page 366, pl. 26:10. Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related jade hound, dated Song to Yuan dynasty, with similar russet shading, at Sotheby's Hong Kong in Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art on 7 October 2010, lot 2797, sold for HKD 350,000, and a related jade carving of a recumbent dog, also with similar russet shading and dated to the Song dynasty, at Bonhams Hong Kong in The Songzhutang Collection of Early Jades from the Neolithic Period to the Yuan Dynasty on 30 May 2017, lot 57, sold for HKD 375,000. 宋代玉雕臥犬 中國，960-1279年。臥犬前爪伸在頭下，軀體雕工精細，尾巴掃向一側，杏仁狀眼，耳朵向後。 半透明的玉石呈深褐色，從深褐色到深琥珀色，並帶有青色和黃灰色脈理、黑色内沁和白色絮狀物。 來源：英國私人收藏。 品相：狀況極好，輕微磨損，有少量微小劃痕，玉石有天然脈理，隨著時間的推移，其中一些可能會發展成細小的裂縫。 重量：34.6 克 尺寸：長6.8 厘米 拍賣結果比較：一件有相似紋理的宋至元代玉犬，見香港蘇富比Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art 2010年10月 7日 lot 2797, 售價HKD 350,000；另一件宋代玉雕臥犬，見香港邦翰思The Songzhutang Collection of Early Jades from the Neolithic Period to the Yuan Dynasty 2017年5月30日 lot 57, 售價HKD 375,000。