A white and russet jade carving of a horse and monkey


18th/19th centuryWell carved as a recumbent horse with the legs neatly folded and tucked underneath the body, its head swayed to its right, precariously climbed over a monkey grasping a rein strapped to the bridle, a second monkey beside it, the translucent stone of a white tone with russet inclusions highlighting the reverse. 6.6cm (2 5/8in) wide
|十八/十九世紀 白玉帶皮馬上封侯把件Provenance: an English private collection來源： 英國私人收藏The monkey (hou 猴), is a homophone for 'marquis' (hou 侯), which on top of a horse (mashang 馬上), also meaning 'quickly', is a rebus for 'quick ennoblement' or rising quickly up the ladder of success in one's career.