A celadon and russet jade carving of a quail, Qing dynasty, 18th century | 清十八世紀 青白玉雕鵪鶉把件

Christie’s London, 8th June 1992, lot 152.

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倫敦佳士得，1992年6月8日，編號152

This charming piece is notable for the intricately carved details, as seen in the feathers and feet of the quail, the delicacy of which the craftsman has skilfully captured onto a small jade pebble. His dexterity with the medium is further evidenced in the wings' feathers that have been picked out in the russet skin, which also suggests he has carved the piece according to the shape of the pebble to ensure minimal wastage of the precious stone. A related carving of two quails, but holding a lingzhi was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 27th May 2014, lot 25.

Jade carvings of quails are more commonly known grasping millet stems; see one in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Jadeware III, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 81; one sold in our London rooms, 12th June 1990, lot 87; another sold in these rooms, 27th October 1993, 512; and a fourth example sold in our Paris rooms, 9th June 2011, lot 18.