California Asian Art Auction California Asian Art Auction
 June 11, 2022  June 11, 2022

 Lot # 5142 
A LARGE JADE CARVING OF QILIN AND BOOK    明 大型玉雕麒麟吐玉書


  • Dimension: Height: 5 1/8 in (12.8 cm) Length: 7 1/2 in (19.0 cm) Width: 2 5/8 in (6.5 cm)
  • Estimate From: $6000
  • Estimate To: $8000

Carved in the form of a recumbent mythical beast 'Qilin' with its horned head turned backward issuing clouds from mouth, its scaly back carrying a book with brocade tied to the middle.


在中國神話中,麒麟是一種吉祥之物。麒麟,亦作「騏轔」,亦簡稱「麟」,是古代傳說中的神物,一般作鹿狀,獨角,全身有鱗甲,尾像牛。《禮記》將「麟、鳳、龜、龍」,謂之「四靈」,而麟爲「四靈之首,百獸之先」。麒麟被人們視爲仁獸,是吉祥的象徵,古人認爲,麒麟出沒處,必有祥瑞,相傳孔子誕生之前,有麒麟吐玉書於其家院,而孔子出生後,人們便稱他爲「麒麟兒」。相傳只在太平盛世,或世有聖主時此獸纔會出現,且有威嚴之態,神威之功。本器取材優良,以上等和田玉製成,不惜用料,材料碩大,玉質溫潤細膩,瑩潤光潔,局部帶有褐黃色沁色。整器圓雕製成,麒麟臥狀回首,雙眼圓睜,相貌神武,口吐雲氣,肌體挺拔,圓潤壯碩,長尾上卷,造型豐滿健壯,線條規矩莊穆,上託書負於背,暗含美意,四蹄呈跪臥狀,雙角短促有力,鱗片整齊排布,分毫畢現。整器不惜用料,健壯碩大,玉質優良,工藝精湛,立體感極強,爲案頭陳設佳品。