White jade pendant "dog", Qing dynasty, 18th century

Pendant made of Hetian white jade and delicately carved in one piece. Tied to a decorative cord with a bead. The color of the jade is a lustrous white color enhanced with small inclusions.

The body has been depicted in lying form, with the legs extended under the body, ears close to the body, bulging eyes, pronounced ribs, a prominent spine and the tail curved towards the right hind leg. The head has an elongated shape, with a well-defined slender muzzle, closed mouth and open nostrils.

In the Tang dynasty, pieces of jade carved in the shape of a resting dog can already be found, but from the Song dynasty to the Qing dynasty, delicately carved jade animals in naturalistic poses were popular. The carvings were put to a variety of uses: paperweight, pendant or 'toy' for erudite people. 

Provenance: Important collection of Tommy Lam, Hong Kong, since 1980.

References:

Sotheby's "Chinese Art," Hong Kong, November 28, 2018, lot 328.

Size: 2 x 6.8 cm; Weight: 34 g