A YELLOW AND RUSSET JADE 'DOUBLE CAT' PENDANT, MING DYNASTY China, 1368-1644. Carved as a recumbent double-headed cat, with paws placed beneath each head to either end of the pendant. The eyes, whiskers, and ribs are incised, a vertical hole is drilled through the center allowing for suspension. The translucent stone of a yellow tone with russet veins and cloudy white inclusions. Provenance: English private collection. Condition: Very good condition with old wear and few minuscule nicks, the stone with natural fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks over time. Weight: 28.4 g Dimensions: Length 5 cm The Chinese word for cat is a homophone of mao, meaning someone in their 80s or 90s, the cat thus symbolizing longevity and the wish for a long life. Two cats therefore signify 'double longevity', or a long, blissful marriage. 明代黃玉帶皮雙貓形擺件 中國，1368-1644年。雕刻成一隻臥式雙頭貓，爪子放在頭下，生動表現眼睛、鬍鬚和肋骨，在中心鑽出一個垂直孔，可以用來作爲掛件。淺黃色的半透明玉料，帶有赤褐色紋理和白色絮狀物。 來源：英國私人收藏 品相：狀況極好，舊時磨損，有些微小刻痕。玉料上有天然脈理，隨著時間的推移，其中一些可能已經發展成細小的裂縫。 重量：28.4克 尺寸：長5 厘米