A CELADON AND RUSSET JADE 'BIXI' WATERPOT, 17TH - EARLY 18TH CENTURY China. Boldly carved as a Bixi, the mythical creature, standing foursquare on stout legs, the face detailed with large eyes, incised scrolling brows, and a pierced scowling mouth, the tail carved as a single ruyi-head, the body neatly incised with ruyi-shaped scroll designs. The semi-translucent stone is of an elegant grayish celadon tone with a deep russet skin and associated veining.

Provenance: British trade.
Condition: Very good condition with significant old wear, some traces of use and few minuscule nicks here and there. The surface with a fine manual polish overall. The stone with natural fissures and inclusions. The stopper is lost.

Weight: 108.5 g
Dimensions: Length 6.7 cm

Opinion: Sculptures of Bixi are traditionally rubbed for good luck, which explains why the neatly incised ruyi scrolls on the back of the mythical creature are mostly obliterated today, owing to hundreds of years of devotion by generations of scholars. It is to be hoped that the future owner of this masterpiece will extend it the same appreciation as their predecessors.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's London, 7 November 2014, lot 403
Price: GBP 9,375 or approx. EUR 13,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pale celadon and russet jade model of a tiger
Expert remark: Compare the russet skin and veining, as well as the circular aperture on the tiger's back, also missing the stopper. Note the slightly larger size (8.5 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's London, 14 May 2013, lot 122
Price: GBP 7,500 or approx. EUR 10,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A celadon jade 'Buddhist lion' water pot and cover, 18^th century
Expert remark: Compare the similarly bold manner of carving. Note the slightly larger size (9.3 cm) and the stopper still present.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 22-23 March 2012, lot 1896
Price: GBP 21,150 or approx. EUR 28,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Greenish-White Jade Bixi-Form Water Pot, 17^TH - 18^TH Century
Expert remark: Compare the same subject, the stopper also missing, and the bold manner of carving. Note the significantly larger size (11.3 cm) and the purity of the jade.


十七至十八世紀初青玉贔屭水丞
中國。神獸贔屭，四肢粗壯，運用圓雕的手法，雕刻出龍首、龍頸、麟尾，背部有圓孔。這顆半透明的玉料呈優雅的灰青色調。

來源：英國古玩交易市場。
品相：狀況極好，有明顯的磨損和一些使用痕跡，而且到處都有一些微小的刻痕。整體表面經過精細手工打磨。具有天然裂縫和內沁的玉料。塞子丟失。

重量：108.5克
尺寸：長6.7厘米

專家注釋：傳説撫摸贔屭，可以祈求好運，這也解釋了為什麼幾百年來贔屭背上雕刻如意的原因。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦佳士得，2014年11月7日，lot 403
價格：GBP 9,375（相當於今日EUR 13,000）
描述：十八至十九世紀青玉留皮玉虎
專家評論：比較玉料褐色留皮和紋理，以及虎背上的圓孔，也遺失塞子。請注意尺寸稍大 (8.5厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦佳士得，2013年5月14日，lot 122
價格：GBP 7,500（相當於今日EUR 10,500）
描述：十八世紀青玉太獅水丞A celadon jade 'Buddhist lion' water pot and cover, 18^th century
專家評論：比較相似的大膽雕刻風格。請注意尺寸較大 (9.3厘米)，以及尚有塞子。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2013年3月22 -23日，lot 1896
價格：GBP 21,150（相當於今日EUR 28,000）
描述：十七至十八世紀青白玉贔屭水丞
專家評論：比較相同的主題，蓋子遺失，以及大膽的雕刻風格。請注意明顯較大的尺寸 (11.3厘米) 和玉石的純淨度。