A rare yellow jade carving of goose and goslings Ming Dynasty
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Find your local specialistA rare yellow jade carving of goose and goslings
Finely carved as a goose with its wings folded over its body, with finely incised plumage and feathers, the head raised, holding a leafy ear of grain in its beak, the grain incised with a diaper ground, with two goslings at its side, one with its head raised and beak open, the other with its head turned backwards and its beak tucked between the wings, the webbed feet tucked underneath, the stone of yellowish tone with warm honey-amber inclusions, wood stand.
7.7cm (3in) across (2).
Footnotes
Compare a related jade goose carving, attributed to the 16th century, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, illustrated by M.Wilson, Chinese Jades, London, 2004, pl.24, pp.28-29, where Ming Wilson notes that 'the goose ... was associated with the great calligrapher Wang Xizhi (AD 303-61), who reputedly spent long hours observing how a goose moved its neck and subsequently realized that he could produce superb calligraphy by moving his wrist in a similar manner.' Furthermore, geese were believed to mate for life and therefore the carving of a goose with two goslings would represent the wish for a blissful marital life and offspring.
