A SPINACH JADE CARVING OF A MYTHICAL BEAST / QILIN China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century Flat carving in a deep tone green stone of a recumbent beast amidst rocks, pine trees and lingzhi fungus. Offered at auction with a matching wooden stand carved with peonies. H (with stand): 10,5 cm - H (without stand): 7,5 cm - L: 9,5 cm - w: 2,5 cm Weight: 163 grams Provenance: > Private collection; > Carlos Alfredo Tornquist Altgelt (1885-1953), O. Ramos Oromi y Cia, Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 27th, 28th and 29th 1936, lot 290; > Joseph Vallot (1854-1925), Drouot, Paris, Messrs Lair-Dubreuil and Portier, November 16th, 17th, 18th 1925. Notes: 1. The qilin (麒 麟) or Chinese unicorn represents good luck , prosperity, goodwill and benevolence. 2. Carlos Alfredo Tornquist Altgelt (1885-1953) was the President of the banking house of Ernesto Tornquist Co., Ltd., and a member of a prominent Argentinian family. A person of influence, he is also known to have played a crucial role in helping to avoid a war between Argentina and Chile in 1902 by managing the British mediation in the border dispute. Throughout the years, he maintained a close friendship with Argentina Presidents Julio A. Roca (1843-1914) and Carlos Pellegrini (1846-1906). 3. Joseph Vallot (1854-1925) was a French astronomer, geographer, naturalist, alpinist and patron of arts and sciences, who studied botanic and geology in Paris and later became the President of the Club Alpin Français. In 1875, he fell in love with Mont Blanc and later on built up the first observatory there called Refuge Vallot where he did install a Salon Chinois which received famous visitors including Pope Pius XI. His large collection of Chinese jades was sold at Drouot in 1925 as a signature / single collection / Estate Sale. 神兽/麒麟碧玉雕 中国，清朝，19世纪