Extremely rare reddish jade bear, Western Han dynasty

Extremely rare reddish jade bear, Western Han dynasty

Powerfully carved in movement, with the right foreleg slightly raised, starting to take the next step. Head slightly tilted downwards, eyes round, but firm and confident looking forward. Muzzle well presented with marked nostrils. The broad, strong head with the coat line starting under the neck and ending at the small, rounded ears, typical of the Asiatic bear. Four short but muscular and rounded legs with well-defined claws. The rounded body separating very well the front part from the back part, where we find a small tail at the end.

The jade carving of a bear represents the naturalism in small jade sculptures of antiquity, which could be found in imperial mausoleums from the Han Dynasty.

Size: 3.9 x 3.5 x 6.3 cm; Weight: 128 gr

Provenance: Current French private collection. -Previous owner of lot: 92, (Carved spinach green jade vase, Qing dynasty) Auction: Asian Art Auction 29 December 2022. Darley Auctions.