~ Chinese Qing Period Or Earlier Nephrite Jade Horse & Monkey Pendant ~
A small ring-shaped pendant carved as a coiled, recumbent horse with its head turned back over its body, the curled tail and body together forming a wide central opening. A small monkey figure perches at the horse's neck, one arm reaching toward its mane, and a spiral cloud-scroll motif is carved on the horse's haunch. The stone is a warm brown to cream tone with dense darker speckled inclusions throughout and a soft, only lightly glossy finish. A small drilled hole near the base would have allowed the piece to be worn or suspended.
Historical Context
This pendant draws on two long-running strands of Chinese decorative tradition. The open, coiled ring form with a creature worked into a continuous circular composition descends from the ancient "huang" pendant type, used since the Eastern Zhou and Han dynasties and often decorated with small animals, including monkeys, set among scrolling cloud patterns, exactly the kind of spiral seen on this piece's haunch. Separately, the pairing of a horse with a monkey at its neck is one of the best known puns in Chinese decorative art: "ma," meaning horse, evokes the phrase "immediately," while "hou," monkey, sounds like the word for the rank of marquis, together expressing a wish for swift promotion to high office. Both traditions were carried forward and frequently revived by later workshops, which is part of why pieces combining them can be difficult to date with confidence from form alone.
~ Dimensions ~
The piece has a diameter of 2 inches (5.1 cm) & a depth of 0.6 inches (1.5 cm). It weighs 65 g.
~ Condition ~
The piece is in excellent condition.
