A WHITE JADE ‘BUDDHIST LION AND BAT’ CARVING, 1900sChina, late Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) to Republic period (1912-1949). The recumbent beast with its head and hind legs turned to one side, the tail undulating within, the beast licking its hind paw, the face detailed with bulging eyes above a ruyi-shaped nose, a bat cleverly picked out in brown besides the lion’s left ear. The semi-translucent stone of a white tone with a brown inclusion. With a suspension cord and glass bead.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. The stone with an attractive soft polish. Provenance: From the collection of the late Michael Sherrard CBE, QC, acquired before 2000 and thence by descent. Michael Sherrard (1928-2012) was an English barrister in fraud and company law who was considered one of the great recent influences on the legal profession. He was involved in numerous high-profile cases in both English and East Asian courts, particularly Hong Kong and Singapore. Together with Linda Goldman, he wrote a memoir titled “Wigs and Wherefores: A Biography of Michael Sherrard QC”. Sherrard was an enthusiastic collector of Chinese art, especially jade carvings.Weight: 152 gDimensions: Length 7.5 cm