Asian Art I - 21st May 2014
Lot 296
A Chinese white jade carving of a parakeet Qianlong or earlier
Estimate £8,000 - £12,000 | Hammer £12000
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Description

A Chinese white jade carving of a parakeet Qianlong or earlier, clasping a gnarled fruiting peach branch in its beak, its head turned to the left and its wings resting asymmetrically across its back, the tail feathers and features finely defined, the stone with faint russet tones, 5.1cm.
Provenance: formerly in the collection of Dr Isaac Newton. Purchased on the 23rd July 1981 for £2,750.
Cf. Bluett & Sons Ltd., Dr Newton's Zoo, A Study of post-Archaic Small Jade Carvings, p.19, no.21. And also R Davids & D Jellinek, Provenance, pp.336-7 for further information about Dr Newton.