Four Chinese Jade Animal Carvings

Four small Chinese jade animal carvings. The first a standing elephant in pale celadon stone, the trunk curled under, the ears and caparison lightly incised, drilled through the body. The second a crouching bird with raised crest, incised wing and plumed scrolling tail, the stone of honey tone with heavy russet and an altered, matte surface, shown on a lucite block. The third a recumbent beast with russet-capped ears and incised haunches, in pale celadon. The fourth a recumbent beast in pale yellowish stone with russet patches, the head turned back above a scrolling mane.

Condition: Very Good. All four carvings intact, with no cracks, losses or repairs observed. The crouching bird with a matte, altered and lightly pitted surface and heavy russet, consistent with its condition of burial; the other three with bright polish and minor surface scratches. Light nibbling to the extremities and dirt in the incised details. Russet markings are natural to the stones. Supplied with one lucite display block. Not professionally tested.