8cm.（3 1/8 in.）wide

Provenance
Feng Wen Tang，Hong Kong
The Collection of Raymond and Frances Bushell，acquired in the early 1990s from Feng Wen Tang，Hong Kong

White jade with partial suffusions. Carved in the round，the rotund recumbent goat is posed kneeling with a triangular head slightly raised and two eyes looking to the front. The two curling horns bend to the sides at the back of the head. Under the neck and on the two sides of the body parallel slim lines are incised to represent hairs. One front leg is raised while the other is shown kneeling. The two back limbs recline under the belly. The work is carved with a touch of realism and refinement，and has a lustrous quality being finely polished. The goat was a peaceful domesticated animal and also carries auspicious attributes in the mind of the ancient people. Its image was often found on pictorial bricks of the Han dynasty. Jade goats carved in the round were produced with increasing numbers in the Eastern Han dynasty.

Notes for appreciation
The Han dynasty marked an important period in producing jade goats and their development. Carved in the round with a strong sense of three-dimensionality，the form of jade goats was precisely captured in a realistic manner，and often represented with rotund bodies in a tranquil recumbent posture. They have smaller triangular heads and thick muscular backs，short necks，protruding mouths with the horns bend and curl downwards. Incised lines are utilized for decorating their bodies. These goats often have their eyes looking at the front，showing peaceful expression with features skillfully depicted and spirit fully conveyed. This piece is carved from a single piece of green jade and has a lustrous quality. The eyes are engraved in circular form and at the corner of the eyes are hook-like decorations turning back with slim long eyebrows rendered. The head is slightly raised and the eyes look forward，whereas the nose is thin and protrudes outward，which looks like the Chinese character “yi”（one）. The facial expression of the animal is peaceful and tranquil. The two horns are skillfully carved，curling back to the two sides behind the head with finely curved shapes，giving a sculptural quality. Several ridges are carved on the two horns. Incised parallel lines are rendered beneath the neck，on the chest and at the two sides of the body to represent the fur neatly. Shown in a kneeling recumbent posture，the four muscular legs are strong and forceful，with one leg kneeling and one leg reclining，which are further outlined with long and slim lines. The hind legs are hidden under the belly and split away from the body with a slanted cut. The toes are also clearly defined with the tail hanging down and turning inward. This work was a refined decorative object of the Han dynasty displaying a sense of perfection，which is very rare and unusual.
Gu Fang
Research Director，China Association of Collectors

An identical jade ram in the form of waterpot was sold at Christie’s，Hong Kong，30th November 2016，lot 3201. The body of the Christie’s example is hollowed with a circular opening on its back. Another jade waterpot in the form of recumbent ram dated to the Han Dynasty in Qing Court Collection，is illustrated in Jadeware（1），The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum，vol.40，Hong Kong，1995，p. 239，no. 200.（fig.1）. See also related ram，dated to the Han dynasty in the Beijing Palace Museum，illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum，Jade 4，Han，Wei，Jin，Southern and Northern Dynasties，2001，p.180，no. 237.（fig.2）

Price estimate:
HKD: 1,500,000-2,000,000
USD: 194,000-258,000

Auction Result:
HKD: 7,050,000