A yellow jade horse, Qing dynasty, 18th century

Florine Langweil, Paris.

This rare yellow jade horse is a superb example of animal jade carving, its delicate facial details and smooth, rounded forms creating a captivating contrast to its dynamic posture. Horses have long been associated with power and wealth in Chinese history. The style in which this figure has been crafted embodies the artisan's intent to capture not only the physical likeness, but also the innate strength of the animal through its deliberately dramatical pose, evoking a moment in time or a hidden narrative.

Small jade animal sculptures as such, typically carved in reclining or seated postures to conform to the shape of jade pebbles, were created as functional paperweights for the scholar's desk. Notably, Qing emperors also incorporated jade horse carvings into their 'curio boxes', further attesting to the cultural significance and appreciation of these exquisite art pieces.

See a jade carving of a jade horse from the Qing imperial collection, now in the National Palace Museum, Taipei (acc. no. 故玉004285N000000000). Compare also two yellow jade recumbent horses, one sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 7th April 2016, lot 3615, and another sold in our New York rooms, 10th September 2018, lot 100.

See also a yellow jade horse from the collection of the Lt. Victor Aymé Desiré Rahou (1826-1898), sold in our Paris rooms, 15th June 2023, lot 57.Florine Ebstein-Langweil (1861-1958) was a dealer, collector and connoisseur who sold to prominent collectors and museums.