Back

Lot 190

A RARE AND FINE WHITE JADE "HORSE AND FOREIGN GROOM" GROUP, YUAN/MING DYNASTY, 14TH - 16TH CENTURY
The powerful recumbent animal is carved with its head turned sharply over its back, featuring flared nostrils and bulging eyes beneath a pair of alert ears and a flowing incised mane. Its tail rests along the left flank, with the left foreleg raised and the remaining legs tucked beneath the body. A foreign groom is shown resting against its right side. With a fitted box.

Jade carvings of foreign figures are extremely rare, with most known examples dating from the Tang to Ming dynasties. For comparable figures, see Christie¡¯s New York, 13 September 2018, lot 903, and Sotheby¡¯s London, 8 December 2022, lot 249. For a related jade group depicting a horse and groom, see Christie¡¯s Hong Kong, 30 May 2024, lot 2987. A jade horse carved in a similar pose was sold at Bonhams London, 11 November 2010, lot 26.
元至明 白玉雕「胡人簽馬」擺件
臥馬回首,鼻翼張揚,雙目突出,耳朵豎立,鬃毛刻劃細緻,尾巴沿左側垂落,左前腿抬起,其餘腿收於身下,右側倚一番使人物。配盒。

玉雕番人極為罕見,常見於唐至明代。類似器見:2018年9月13日紐約佳士得拍賣,第903號;2022年12月8日倫敦蘇富比拍賣,第249號;2024年5月30日香港佳士得拍賣,第2987號。

源流:
W.Y. Thomas Kwok 遺藏,1980年代初購於香港



10cm wide; 6cm high

Estimate $5,000 - $8,000

Sold for $5,500

Overall in good condition.


CLICK TO SEE DETAIL PHOTOS OF THE WHOLE AUCTION






The opinions expressed in the condition reports are a guide only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Prospective buyers are encouraged to seek further information or request additional images during our pre-sale period where Leonard Joel staff are available for advice. Please note condition reports can be amended during the pre-sale period, so we strongly suggest any interested bidders check the published condition report available on the website before the auction commences. Leonard Joel makes no guarantee of the originality of mechanical or applied components. Absence of reference to such modifications does not imply that a lot is free from modifications.


The Estate of W.Y. Thomas Kwok, acquired in Hong Kong in the early 80s.

Born in Macau, Mr. Kwok studied architecture in Melbourne and built a four-decade career with Wong & Ouyang, shaping Hong Kong's skyline. His collecting began with Japanese occupation stamps (1941-1945), issued during Japan's wartime administration of Hong Kong and other territories. Gradually, his passion shifted to jade, inspired by visits to auction houses.

At the time, Hong Kong's auction scene was emerging-Sotheby's debuted in 1973, Christie's in 1986. By the late 1980s, Kwok was attending smaller sales, joining the city's first generation of serious collectors. His jade holdings embody not only technical excellence and cultural symbolism but also the personal evolution of a connoisseur whose interests bridged philately, architecture, and Chinese art heritage.

郭偉仁先生(Kwok, Thomas Wai Yan)1944年出生於澳門,青年時在墨爾本攻讀建築專業並開啟了建築設計的事
業。1984年,Thomas加入香港著名建筑师事务所WONG & OUYANG (HK) LIMITED 王歐陽(香港)有限公司
担任董事,并于1992至1995年间,担任香港注册建筑师委员会主席。在1980年前后,苏富比和佳士得首次进入香
港。郭偉仁先生对于玉器收藏的热情随之得到了滋养,逐渐形成了自己的品味和收藏体系。郭偉仁先生是香港最
早开始收藏的初代收藏家之一。

Important Chinese and Asian Art

AUCTION
Sale: LJ8791
11:00am - 2 November 2025
Hawthorn

VIEWING
Thur 30 Oct - Sat 1 Nov, 10am - 4pm
2 Oxley Rd, Hawthorn VIC

CONTACT
Luke Guan
asianart@leonardjoel.com.au


SIMILAR ITEMS

Lot 84

A RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL CHINESE GILT-BRONZE SEATED FIGURE OF PANJARNATE MAHAKALA, MING DYNASTY, YONGLE/XUANDE PERIOD, EARLY 15TH CENTURY

Estimate: $120,000-200,000

Lot 286

A JAPANESE KATANA ATTRIBUTED TO THE AOE SCHOOL, KAMAKURA/NAMBOKUCHO PERIOD, 14TH CENTURY, Unsigned, Designated Important Sword (Juyo...

Estimate: $55,000-85,000

Lot 70

A VERY FINE AND IMPORTANT CHINESE BRONZE TAPIR-FORM VESSEL XIZUN, QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD (1736 - 1795)

Estimate: $50,000-70,000

Lot 85

A VERY FINE AND RARE KHASA MALLA KINGDOM GILT BRONZE SEATED AMITAYUS BUDDHA, 14TH/15TH CENTURY

Estimate: $50,000-70,000

To top