A GREEN JADE ‘CAT AND BUTTERFLY’ CARVING, LATE MING-EARLY QING DYNASTY

Expert’s note:
This impressive carving can be displayed in two different ways. With the paws forming the base, we see a figure of a cat with a butterfly. The butterfly can however also serve as a flat base for this carving, making it function as a weight in the form of a crouching cat.

China, 16th-18th century. Boldly carved as a cat seated in a recumbent pose and a large butterfly, the space between the two animals allowing for suspension as a pendant. The opaque stone of a pale green tone with pale brown shadings, cloudy inclusions, and russet veins.


Provenance:
From an English private collection.

Condition:
Very good condition with minimal nicks and natural fissures.

Weight: 255.1 g
Dimensions: Length 7 cm


Cats and butterflies
are symbols of longevity. The cat (mao) is a homonym for ‘seventy’, while the butterfly (die) shares the same sound as ‘eighty’. Together, they form a rebus for maodie. This term implies that one would live to be seventy or eighty - considered high age in ancient China.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8 April 2011, lot 3209
Price: HKD 2,420,000 or approx.
EUR 402,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A black and white jade ‘cat and butterfly’ carving, Ming dynasty
Expert remark: Note the slightly cube-shaped form, which allows this carving to be placed in several different ways, much like the present lot.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christies New York, 25 Sept 2020, lot 1772
Price: USD 8,750 or approx.
EUR 9,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Mottled Grey and Beige Jade 'Cat' Group, Late Ming-Early Qing Dynasty, 16th-18th Century
Expert remark: Note the size (6.6 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 30 May 2018, lot 587
Price: HKD 37,500 or approx.
EUR 4,900
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A white and black jade ‘cat and butterfly’ group, Qing dynasty
Expert remark: Note the size (5.7 cm).





明代青玉貓戲蝶


中國，十六至十八世紀。一隻貓以斜臥的姿勢與一隻大蝴蝶嬉戲。玉料不透明，淡綠色調，帶有淡棕色紋理和絮狀物。


專家注釋：
貓的爪子形成底座，我們可以看到一隻貓和一隻蝴蝶；蝴蝶也可以作為這個玉雕的平面底座，這樣也可以把這件玉雕作爲鎮紙使用。


來源：
英國私人收藏。

品相：
狀況極好，輕微刻痕和自然裂縫。

重量：255.1 克
尺寸：長 7 釐米


“
貓蝶
”
諧音
“
耄耋
”
，有著“耄耋”之壽的美好含義。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2011年4月8日，lot 3209
價格：HKD 2,420,000（相當於今日
EUR 402,000
）
描述：明代黑白玉貓戲蝴蝶
專家評論：請注意玉石略呈方狀的外形，這使得這件雕刻品能夠以多種不同的方式放置。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2020年9月25日, lot 1772
價格：USD 8,750（相當於今日
EUR 9,500
）
描述：十六至十八世紀明末清初灰米色斑駁玉貓專家評論：請注意尺寸(6.6厘米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2018年 5月30日，lot 587
價格：HKD 37,500（相當於今日
EUR 4,900
）
描述：清墨白玉耄耋
專家評論：請注意尺寸(5.7厘米)。