Ming dyansty jade @ Bonhams. Fine Chinese Art, 13 May 2010

A pale green jade 'monkey and horse' group, Ming Dynasty. photo Bonhams

Well carved in the round to depict a recumbent horse with his head turned sharply to the left over his body, looking at a small monkey clambering up his back, the stone of a greyish-green tone with brown inclusions, wood stand, fitted box. 8.2cm (3¼in) wide (3). Estimate: £5,000 - 7,000, HK$59,000 - 83,000

Provenance: Purchased at Bluett & Sons, London, 1960s
The Collection of Mr Harold Cooper

A green jade carving of a toad. Ming Dynasty. photo Bonhams

Finely carved to depict the toad with head raised and turned to the left, clasping a water weed in its mouth, the underside carved with webbed feet, the stone of an even pale green tone, wood stand. 6.7cm (2½in) wide (2). Estimate: £3,000 - 5,000, HK$35,000 - 59,000
Provenance: acquired at Christie's London, prior to 1968
The property of a Lady, and thence by descent to the present owner

A pale green jade openwork 'goose' plaque, Ming Dynasty. photo Bonhams

The oval plaque deeply carved with an intricate design of a goose in a lotus pond amidst numerous stems bearing lotus leaves and blossoms, lingzhi fungus and other plants, the stone of pale green tone with minor russet inclusions, 9.5cm (3¾in) wide; together with a white jade carving of two interlocked mythical beasts, Qing Dynasty. 6cm (2⅜in) wide. (2). Estimate: £2,000 - 3,000, HK$24,000 - 35,000

A pale green and russet jade hound. Ming Dynasty. photo Bonhams

The recumbent slender-bodied hunting dog carved with its head resting atop his forelegs, the head with well-detailed eyes, nose and ears, the ribs denoted by curved lines and the curled tail flicked over the body, the legs tucked underneath, the stone of pale green and white tone with russet inclusions. 7.2cm (2⅞in) long. Estimate: £2,000 - 3,000, HK$24,000 - 35,000

A yellow jade carving of a hound, Ming Dynasty. photo Bonhams

The recumbent dog carved with its slender head resting on its forelegs, the body well detailed with a knobbly spine and ribs, the curled tail resting on the hind haunch, the hind legs tucked underneath, the stone of yellow-green tone with russet inclusions. 7cm (2¾in) long. Estimate: £2,000 - 3,000, HK$24,000 - 35,000

Provenance: R.H.R.Palmer collection

A yellow-white jade archaistic tripod cup, 18th century. photo Bonhams

Of archaistic form, the oval cup with high slightly rounded sides, carved with a loop handle and a taotie mask, the sides with a panelled border enclosing stylised dragons flanked by double-square scrolls, supported on three feet carved as horned beasts, the base incised with [...] bao yi mark, the transluscent stone of yellow-white tone with russet streaks, wood stand. 11cm (4⅜in) long (2). Estimate: £2,000 - 3,000, HK$24,000 - 35,000

Note: Compare a related archaistic pouring vessel, attributed to the Ming Dynasty, from the Humphrey K.F. Hui collection, illustrated by H.K.F.Hui and T.Y,Pang, Virtuous Treasures: Chinese Jades for the Scholar's Table, Hong Kong, 2007, pl.13.

A pale green jade hound. Ming Dynasty. photo Bonhams

The slender recumbent dog carved with his head resting on his forelegs, with the hind legs tucked at his side, the slender head well detailed, the sides with crescent lines denoting the ribs, the long tail curled over the left haunch, the stone of white-greenish tone with minor inclusions, wood stand. 9.3cm (3⅝in) long. (2). Estimate: £1,500 - 2,500, HK$18,000 - 30,000

Provenance: an old English collection, mostly purchased in London in 1950s/60s

A white and russet jade carving of two mandarin ducks. Ming Dynasty. photo Bonhams

Well carved as a pair of mandarin ducks swimming side by side in opposite directions atop a lotus leaf, each holding in its beak a lotus sprig, their wings folded with plumage and feathers well delineated, the stone of white tone with opaque white inclusions and russet area cleverly used to denote the leaf, wings and heads, wood stand. 7.6cm (3in) long (2). Estimate: £1,000 - 2,000, HK$12,000 - 24,000

A pale green and brown jade carving of a cat. Ming Dynasty. photo Bonhams

The bemused cat carved seated with its forelegs pointing forward and its head turned towards the back, the tail curled along the right hind haunch, the legs tucked underneath, the stone of pale green tone with dark brown and russet inclusions cleverly used to denote the tail and back section. 4.7cm (1⅞in) wide. Estimate: £1,500 - 2,000, HK$18,000 - 24,000

Provenance: R.H.R.Palmer, collection no.X231

A celadon and russet jade cup, yi. Ming Dynasty. photo Bonhams

Carved after an archaic bronze prototype, the handle formed as a chilong dragon clambering over the rim, opposite the narrow end with the spout, raised on three legs, the stone of dark yellow-green tone with russet inclusions. 14.5cm (5¾in) long. Estimate: £1,500 - 2,000, HK$18,000 - 24,000

Provenance: R.H.R.Palmer, collection no.165, label

A greyish-white jade openwork 'dragon' ornament. Yuan-Ming Dynasty. photo Bonhams

The intricate headdress ornament carved in the form of a writhing dragon pursuing the flaming pearl amidst lingzhi fungus sprays above cloud scrolls, 5.1cm (2in) wide; together with an unusual yellow and dark brown jade 'fish' half tally, probably 18th century, with incised inscription on the side and raised and incised characters made to fit the other half tally, 7.8cm (3⅛in) long; a green and amber jade Buddhist lion group, 18th/19th century, with four cubs clambering on their parent holding a beribboned brocade ball, 9cm (3½in) wide; a small pale green jade bird, 3.4cm (1¼in) wide; and a hardstone hedgehog carving (not Chinese), 6cm (2⅜in) wide. (5). Estimate: £1,500 - 2,000, HK$18,000 - 24,000

Provenance: R.H.R.Palmer, collection nos.X132 (dragon hair ornament), A19 or X130 (hedgehog), A5 (bird)

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Art, 13 May 2010. New Bond Street www.bonhams.com