AN ARCHAISTIC WHITE JADE ‘BEAR’ GARMENT HOOK, QING DYNASTY
China, 1644-1912. The bear's right foreleg, intricately carved, stretches above its head to build the hook, showcasing its daunting clawed paws. The head is crafted in the style of the Han dynasty, and the impressive creature is seated on its haunches. The smooth, translucent stone has a fine white color, exhibits icy inclusions and creamy-russet patches along the base and side, adding to its overall appeal.


Provenance:
Swedish trade.

Condition:
Very good condition with expected old wear, some signs of erosion along the russet edges, and small nicks here and there, smoothened over time. The jade has natural fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks.

Weight: 62.2 g
Dimensions: Length 8.8 cm


The bear has been a popular totemic emblem
in
China since ancient times. China's foundation myths hold that the legendary Yellow Emperor, Huang Di, early on lived with his tribe in the northwest, where he became a farmer and tamed six different types of ferocious beasts, including the bear, or xiong, with which the Yellow Emperor ever since has been linked.


Literature comparison:

Compare a related white jade toggle of a bear, 5.2 cm long, dated to the 10th to 11th century, in the British Museum, registration number 1945,1017.56. Compare a prototype white jade pinhead in the form of a bear, 3.3 cm high, dated to the Han dynasty, in the British Museum, registration number 1945,1017.24. Compare a related white jade bear toggle and its closely related style, 4.2 cm high, dated to the Han dynasty, in the British Museum, registration number 2022,3034.249.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 24 June 2014, lot 8011
Price: USD 6,875 or approx.
EUR 8,100
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An unusual white jade garment hook, 18th century
Expert remark: Note the similar shape of the hook and the related archaistic style of the mythical creature. Note the size (10.5 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Galerie Zacke, Vienna, 15 October 2021, lot 77
Price: EUR 27,808 or approx.
EUR 33,000
adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pale celadon jade figure of a bear, eastern Han dynasty
Expert remark: Note the size (4.4 cm) and that this is an archaic carving, dating from the Han dynasty.




清代仿古白玉熊衣飾掛扣

中國，1644-1912 年。 熊的右前腿伸展到頭頂上方形成鉤子，整體動感十足。頭部採用漢代風格。光滑、半透明玉石呈現出細膩的白色，底部和側面有内沁和黃褐色斑塊。


來源：
瑞典古玩交易。

品相：
狀況極好，有磨損，黃褐色邊緣有一些侵蝕，大面積小刻痕，隨著時間的推移變得平滑。玉石有天然裂隙，有的可能發展成細小裂紋。

重量：62.2 克
尺寸：長8.8 厘米


文獻比較：

比較一件相近的十至十一世紀白玉熊指，5長.2 厘米，收藏於大英博物館，館藏編號1945,1017.56。比較一件漢代白玉熊指，高3.3 厘米，收藏於大英博物館，館藏編號1945,1017.24。比較一件非常相近的漢代白玉熊指，高4.2 厘米，收藏於大英博物館，館藏編號2022,3034.249。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：舊金山邦翰斯，2014年6月24日， lot 8011
價格：USD 6,875（相當於今日
EUR 8,100
）
描述：十八世紀白玉帶鉤
專家評論：請注意相似的鉤形，以及相近的仿古神獸。請注意尺寸(10.5 厘米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：Galerie Zacke，維也納，2021年10月15日，lot 77
價格：EUR 27,808（相當於今日
EUR 33,000
）
描述：東漢灰白玉雕熊
專家評論：請注意尺寸(4.4 厘米)，以及此玉為漢代。