A GRAY AND BLACK NEPHRITE JADE FIGURE OF A HORSE, MING DYNASTY China, 17^th century. Well carved as a recumbent horse with the legs tucked in. The head is turned backwards with the mane falling on either side of the arched neck, and the tail is flicked onto the left rear haunch. The semi-translucent stone is of a pale gray tone with cloudy inclusions, dark veins, and black patches and shadings.

Provenance: S. Bernstein & Co., Jade & Oriental Art, San Francisco, 23 August 2004. A private collection in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, acquired from the above. A copy of a description document from S. Bernstein & Co., signed and sealed by Sam Bernstein and confirming the dating above, as well as a copy of the original invoice, dated 23 August 2004 and stating a purchase price of USD 14,000 or approx. EUR 20,500 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompany this lot. Sam Bernstein is an internationally recognized specialist dealer in Chinese antiquities. He has authored thirteen volumes on Chinese art including The Emperor's Jade Suit and Chinese Jade: The Immortal Stone. Over the past twenty-five years, Mr. Bernstein has gained experience in forming some of the greatest collections of Asian art in the world. Both of his parents were passionate collectors of Asian art and traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Far East. In 1991, Mr. Bernstein founded S. Bernstein & Co., Jade and Oriental Art, a gallery in San Francisco located in the historic Fairmont Hotel, which specializes in museum quality Chinese jade and related arts.
Condition: Very good condition with minor old wear, few light surface scratches and minuscule nicks, the stone with natural fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks over time.

Weight: 197.2 g (excl. base) and 245.7 g (incl. base)
Dimensions: Length 8.5 cm (the jade) and 9.1 cm (the base)

With a fitted wood base and a padded box. (3)

The horse has a long history as a symbol of power, energy, and prestige in China. Jade carvings of horses are thought to originate in the Tang dynasty, reflecting the powerful stone sculptures of horses found on Spirit Roads and the pottery horses found in tombs.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 20 September 2013, lot 1683
Price: USD 56,250 or approx. EUR 67,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A well-carved grey-green jade figure of a recumbent horse, 17^th/18^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose and incision work. Note the different color and larger size (15.2 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's Hong Kong, 29 November 2017, lot 3056
Price: HKD 500,000 or approx. EUR 66,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A jade recumbent horse, Ming dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related eyes, mane, tail, and ears, as well as the similar size (9.4 cm). Note the slightly different pose and mostly russet color.


明代灰黑玉臥馬
中國，十七世紀。臥馬表滿佈絲霧狀黑褐色沁，玉質溫潤，觸手細膩，包漿潤潤。玉馬倒地嬉戲，臥馬兩耳圓潤，肢體健碩，骨肉豐滿，回首向背。

來源：2004年8月23日舊金山S. Bernstein & Co.玉器與東亞藝術藝廊；美國馬里蘭州貝塞斯達私人收藏，購於上述藝廊。隨附一份藝廊Sam Bernstein親筆簽署並蓋章的描述文件，以及一份原始發票複印件，時間爲2004年8月23日，價格爲USD 14,000，相當於現在的EUR 20,500。Sam Bernstein是國際公認的中國古物專業經銷商。他撰寫了十三卷有關中國藝術的著作，包括《The Emperor's Jade Suit》和《Chinese Jade: The Immortal Stone》。在過去的二十五年裡，Bernstein先生積累了豐富的亞洲藝術收藏的經驗。他的父母都是亞洲藝術的熱情收藏家，並在歐洲和遠東多次旅行。1991 年，Bernstein先生在舊金山歷史悠久的Fairmont酒店創立了 S. Bernstein & Co., 玉器與東亞藝術藝廊，專門研究博物館品質的中國玉器及相關藝術品。
品相：狀況非常好，有輕微的磨損，輕微的表面劃痕和刻痕，有天然裂縫的玉料，隨著時間的推移，其中一些可能已經發展成細小的裂縫。

重量：197.2 克 (不含底座) 與245.7 克(含底座)
尺寸：長 8.5 厘米 (玉) 與9.1 厘米 (底座)

配有合身的木質底座和帶襯墊的盒子。(3)

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2013年9月20日，lot 1683
價格：USD 56,250（相當於今日EUR 67,000）
描述：十七或十八世紀灰青玉臥馬
專家評論：比較非常相近的姿勢和雕刻。請注意玉石不同顏色和尺寸較大 (15.2 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港佳士得，2017年11月29日，lot 3056
價格：HKD 500,000（相當於今日EUR 66,000）
描述：明代玉臥馬
專家評論：比較非常相近的眼睛、鬃毛、尾巴和耳朵，以及相似的尺寸（9.4厘米）。請注意此玉馬的姿勢略有不同，顏色大多為赤褐色。