A RUSSET AND WHITE JADE 'BUDDHIST LION' WATER POT AND COVER WITH MATCHING HARDWOOD BASE, LATE MING TO EARLY QINGChina, 17th-18th century. The stone of an even white tone with amber and russet inclusions, finely carved as a large Buddhist lion, a cub at its side, the matching cover in the form of a smaller cub climbing on its back. The matching hardwood base shows a third (!) cub lying on its back, the mother lion's front paw resting on its belly. (2)Provenance: Leslie Gifford Kilborn, USA, and thence by descent in the same family. Leslie Gifford Kilborn (1895-1972), son of Retta and Omar Kilborn, was born in Sichuan, China. He greatly advanced missionary work in Western China, was the author of multiple texts and served as dean of the College of Medicine of the West China Union University. In 1952, he left China and became a professor of physiology at the University of Hong Kong.Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. The stone with natural fissures, some of which may have naturally developed into small cracks over time. One of the wooden cub's paws is lost.Weight: 294.2 g (the jade)Dimensions: Height 11 cm (incl. base)Expert's note: It is very rare to find such an ensemble with a matching cover and base, with no less than four Buddhist lions, all still together after so many years!Auction result comparison: Compare with a related celadon jade water pot and cover, also with a lion cub finial but missing the matching base, at Christie's London in Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 14 May 2013, lot 122, sold for GBP 7,500.明末清初白玉雕太獅少獅水丞 中國,十七至十八世紀。玉石均勻白色調,帶有琥珀色和赤褐色的內沁,精細雕刻為太獅,側面有少獅,背面則飾有較小的幼崽。 相匹配的硬木底座顯示出第三隻小獅子躺在其後部,母獅的前爪擱在其腹部上。 來源:美國Leslie Gifford Kilborn,自此保存在同一家族. Leslie Gifford Kilborn (1895-1972), Retta and Omar Kilborn的兒子, 出生於中國四川。他極大地促進了中國西部的傳教工作,是多篇著作的作者,還曾擔任過華西聯合大學醫學院的院長。 1952年,他離開中國,成為香港大學生理學教授。圖片:Leslie Gifford Kilborn (1895-1972, 左起第三位) 品相:狀況極佳,磨損小。 具有天然裂縫的石材,隨著時間的流逝,其中一些可能會自然發展成小裂縫。木製幼崽的一隻爪子丟失了。 重量:玉 294.2 克 尺寸:含底座高 11 厘米 專家注釋: 很難找到這樣一個擁有相配的蓋子和底座的水丞,並且不少於四隻獅子。經過這麼多年,它們仍然在一起!拍賣結果比較:一件相近青玉雕刻的帶蓋水丞,同樣有一隻幼獅,但沒有相應底座,售于倫敦佳士得Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 拍場,2013年5月14日,lot 122, 售價 GBP 7,500。