A fine Chinese pale celadon jade carving of a Buddhist lion dog Qianlong 1736-95

A fine Chinese pale celadon jade carving of a Buddhist lion dog Qianlong 1736-95, the beast sits up, with his head turned to dexter, and holds a brocade ball from a ribbon in his jaws, his angular chin fringed with a short curling beard and his head and back have a finely defined mane, a puppy stands upon his back, holding the other end of the ribbon in his jaws, the underside reveals crisply carved claws beneath the paws, 11.4cm. Provenance: formerly of a private International collection, purchased from Spink and Son, bears paper label. The combination of a large lion dashi together with a small lion xiaoshi, is particularly auspicious in China. They are used together to mean 'may you and your descendant achieve high rank', the two words forming puns for high military ranks.