ASIATICA: HIMALAYA, CHINA 8. DEZEMBER 2026

176 ▼ GROSSER MYTHISCHER VOGEL AUS JADE China, Song- bis Ming-Dynastie, L 23 cm. Aus einem einzigen, schweren Flusskiesel aus dunkelgrauer und braun gefleckter Jade. Der mythische Vogel ist in ruhender Haltung dargestellt und verbindet Merkmale einer Taube mit einem langen, schwungvol­ len Phönixschweif. Die Brust ist mit sich überlappenden Federn versehen, während die Flügel und der Schweif mit dichten, paral­ lelen Rillengravuren verziert sind. Mit samtiger Alterspatina. Provenienz: - Martina Erica Spica, Lugano, 2007 (Zertifikat, dort datiert in die Han Dynastie). - Schweizer Privatsammlung. A LARGE JADE MODEL OF A MYTHICAL BIRD China, Song to Ming dynasty, L 23 cm. Carved on an unusually grand scale from a single, heavy pebble of dark grey and mottled brown jade. The mythical bird rendered in the round, combining features of a dove with a long, sweeping phoenix tail. The chest is carved with overlapping scalloped feathers, while the wings and tail are detailed with dense, parallel line striations. The stone exhibits a smooth, satin-like age patina throughout. Provenance: - Martina Erica Spica, Lugano, 2007 (certificate, there dated Han). - Private Collection, Switzerland. This remarkable jade carving is distinguished not only by its exceptionally rare, monumental scale for a bird of this type (measuring 23 cm in length), but also by its sophisticated handling of material and archaistic revivalism characteristic of the Song dynasty (960–1279). During the Song period, jade carvers developed a deep fascination with antiquity (reverting to Shang, Zhou, and Han models) while simultaneously fostering a renewed, naturalistic ob­ servation of the natural world—a duality heavily promoted by the Imperial court and the literati class. The choice of a heavy, dark grey and mottled brown river pebble demonstrates the Song aesthetic principle of utilizing yusheng (the natural skin and impurities of the raw boulder), turning what might be considered flaws into dynamic tonal contrasts that trace the contours of the bird‘s body. Iconographically, the hybrid creature merges features of a dove with the arched tail of a phoenix (fenghuang). This composite treatment finds close stylistic resonance in animal carvings produced during the Northern and Southern Song dynasties, bridging Tang naturalism with Ming decorative rigidity. Furthermore, the meticulous execution of the plumage reveals a level of sculptural refinement and tactile surface finish (exhibiting a soft, waxy satin patina acquired over centuries) that is virtually diagnostic of high-status Song workshops. CHF 15 000 / 25 000 (€ 16 130 / 26 880) 66