Recumbent Horse in Hetian Nephrite

Catalog note

Catalog note. Material: a single Hetian (Khotan) nephrite pebble of pale celadon tone, the cortex left as a veil of russet along the mane and near flank — a classic “skin” device of Qing pebble carving that both authenticates river-worn jade and supplies chromatic contrast. Technique: the horse is recumbent, legs tucked, head turned slightly as if listening; volumes are simplified rather than naturalistic, consistent with desk sculpture intended for contemplation rather than narrative display. The polish is even and waxen (typical of nephrite’s fibrous structure under grease polish); the underside shows a lightly worked belly without aggressive undercutting. Dating rationale: the restrained modeling, retention of skin, and cabinet scale align with 18th–19th-century Qing literati taste; earlier Ming examples tend toward denser archaic profiles, while late Qing workshop pieces often over-polish. Cultural context: animal carvings of this type sat among ink stones and seals as portable “companions,” not as equestrian trophies. Condition: no visible modern fill; polish consistent with long handling.