Mythical pale green jade model of a beast (bixie)

Chinese, Ming Dynasty

finely carved in the round, this mythical beast is depicted resting on its haunches, with clenched toenails accentuating its posture, its head raised in front of finely incised mane, the face with a benevolent expression defined by bulging eyes above an angular nose, the muscular body adorned with a pronounced spine, the tail elegantly swept to the left, the stone of pale green tone with brown inclusions green tone with light brown inclusions, 10.5cm high x 6cm wide excluding stand

Provenance: John Percival Love (1896-1974) and thence by descent

John Percival Love (1896–1974) was a dedicated collector of Chinese art. He continued the legacy of his father, John Love, whose collection of Imperial wares and works of art was widely admired. His passion for Chinese art was shaped by an upbringing surrounded by exceptional pieces, which instilled in him a deep appreciation for the artistic and historical significance of Chinese works of art. While John Percival Love had a distinguished career as Chairman of Francis Edwards, the renowned antiquarian bookseller, from 1944 to 1972, his true enthusiasm lay in collecting Chinese art. His acquisitions principally between the 1940s and 1960s, included jade carvings primarily and were sourced from leading dealers such as Bluett & Sons. Many of the pieces he purchased had originally been supplied by some of the most significant figures in the field, including T.Y. King, the Shanghai dealer who relocated to Hong Kong after 1949, his son T.Y. King Jr., and his half-brother Dunt King.