A small Chinese jade carving of a rolling horse

A small Chinese jade carving of a rolling horse, probably 17th century. Stretching its head around to gnaw and its rear hoof and its tail curled beneath it, the creamy coloured stone flecked with brown striations, 7cm. Provenance: from the deceased estate of a New York collector. Cf. Watt, Chinese Jades from Han to Ch'ing, no.64, p.8, where he illustrates a Tang dynasty jade depicting the same theme and notes that the coiled position 'is similar to stone or pottery lions of the Tang period with one of the hind paws at the mouth or scratching one ear'. The horse 'Ma', is a symbol of speed and of peace, because in ancient China they were used to bring peaceful tidings.