Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Carved Bowenite Camel Sculpture to the 18th Century.
Qing Dynasty, 18th Century
Masterfully sculpted from a single, substantial natural river boulder, the carving is highly unusual for its dramatic, vertical composition, featuring a proudly raised, upright neck, flared nostrils, and an expressive, wide-open mouth revealing the teeth and tongue.
The rider is depicted with a joyous, softly modelled expression, nestled comfortably between the camel's dual humps upon a finely incised saddle blanket bordered with parallel fringing. The stone is a premium variety of semi-translucent bowenite serpentine, exhibiting a beautiful pale celadon-to-cream hue with a desirable waxy luster. When backlit, the stone transmits a vivid, luminous lemon-lime glow through the neck, contrasting beautifully with natural honey-brown and russet iron-oxide inclusions artfully incorporated along the lower base and recesses.
The piece displays superb 360-degree finish, utilizing sophisticated pierced openwork to hollow the negative space beneath the neck, and is complete with an equally detailed, smooth, and tactile underside showing tucked hooves. It possesses an exquisite, soft surface patina and undisturbed micro-sediment accumulation in the deep crevices consistent with centuries of academic appreciation.
Period / Date: Qing Dynasty, 18th Century (Qianlong Period)
Material: Natural Bowenite Serpentine Hardstone
Height: 17.5 cm
Length: 16.5 cm
Weight: 2,028 grams
Condition: Excellent antique condition, displaying a smooth, hand-polished surface patina consistent with age (with minor diagnostic test marks to the upper flank).
"This monumental carving stands out significantly from standard horizontal animal figures due to its rare vertical scale. In 18th-century Chinese lapidary arts, executing a deep, pierced openwork gap on a 2-kilogram block of stone required immense skill and a massive initial boulder yield. Combined with its prestigious Madison Avenue gallery pedigree, this represents a trophy-tier investment piece for the serious collector of early Chinese works of art."
Provenance:
Throckmorton Fine Art, LLC, New York, USA.
Private Long Island, New York Collection
The G S. May Esquire Private Collection, London
Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Carved Bowenite Camel Sculpture to the 18th Century.
Specialising in antique silver, gold boxes, gold coins and objects de vertu. Rare fine-quality imperial chinese porcelain, jades, cloisonné
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Sandbanks Antiques Profile Page
An Important and Monumental Chinese Carved Bowenite Serpentine 'Camel and Rider' Group Qing Dynasty, 18th Century
