A LARGE CHINESE CELADON JADE CARVING OF A QILIN

QING DYNASTY

The mythical beast depicted in a recumbent pose with its head turned back, the qilin exhales smoke from its mouth which supports a book on its back, the stone with russet inclusions and striations, 17cm.

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

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.