A fine Chinese white jade carving of a Buddhist lion dog Qianlong 1736-95, the beast crouching, its head turned to the right and its ears flattened against its head, with a curling mane and a bushy tail tucked beneath its hind legs, its backbone finely defined, its teeth bared, a hardwood stand carved with lingzhi and pine, a paper label for Queen Amelia of Portugal Collection, 15cm. (2)

Provenance: an English private collection. Formerly the collection of Queen Amelia of Portugal, by repute.

Princess Amélie d'Orléans (1865-1951), married Carlos, Prince Royal of Portugal in 1886, to become the last Queen consort of Portugal. She was patron and founder of the National Association against Tuberculosis, and was actively involved with other social issues and organisations. Despite this, she was at times criticised for her financial extravagances. In 1910, the Portuguese royal family were exiled to France following the death of Amélie's son, Manuel II of Portugal, and the subsequent formation of the first Portuguese Republic, and she spent the remainder of her life there.