明 灰青玉雕「馬上封侯」擺件

The horse and the monkey together is a popular subject matter for jade carving in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the present carving appears to be one of the larger examples. A horse and climbing monkey forms the rebus Mashang fenghou, which may be translated as 'May you immediately have high rank conferred upon you'. This popular motif would have been used to confer good wishes to those hoping to advance quickly into officialdom.

For related but smaller (6.5 cm. long, each) horse and monkey carvings, see Chung Wah-pui, Carol Michaelson, and Jenny So, Chinese Jade Animals, Hong Kong, 1996, pp. 166-167, nos. 152 and 153. A similar, but later, Qianlong-period jade group was sold at Christie's South Kensington, 17 May 2013, lot 1390.