A CHINESE CELADON JADE CARVING OF A QILIN

MING DYNASTY

Seated in a recumbent pose with its scaly legs tucked underneath its body, the two-horned mythical creature faces forwards with its mouth agape, exhaling swirling clouds which support a pile of books on its back, its finely striated tail curling upwards, the stone with russet inclusions and mottling, 8cm.

According to legend, a qilin appeared before the pregnant mother of Confucius and disgorged a jade tablet foretelling the future eminence of her unborn son. The qilin with a book represents the wish that a son will be intellectually gifted and bring honour to his family by passing the civil service examinations with great success. Such pieces were used as ornaments for a scholar's studio with the hope that they would bring wisdom to their owner.

Cf. The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jadeware III, p.114, no.94 for a similar carving of a qilin carrying books on its back from the Qianlong period.