Live Auction 18823Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
A MOTTLED GREY AND BEIGE JADE 'CAT' GROUP
Lot 1772 ANOTHER PROPERTY

A MOTTLED GREY AND BEIGE JADE 'CAT' GROUP

LATE MING-EARLY QING DYNASTY, 16TH-18TH CENTURY

Closed25 September 2020

Price Realised

USD 8,750

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A MOTTLED GREY AND BEIGE JADE 'CAT' GROUP
LATE MING-EARLY QING DYNASTY, 16TH-18TH CENTURY
The recumbent cat sits in a curled position with its head resting on its paws, while a young kitten playfully clambers onto its mother's back. The carving cleverly utilizes the inherent greyish-black and russet tones of the stone.
2 5/8 in. (6.6 cm.) long, hongmu stand

Specialist note


The cat is a symbol of longevity, as the Chinese for 'cat' (mao) is homophonous with the poetic, yet arcane, Chinese word for 'eighty to ninety' (mao). The playful kitten also suggests that longevity is accompanied by offspring to continue the family line.