THREE SMALL JADE CARVINGS
18th/19th century
Comprising a white jade pebble carved with a bat amongst stylised clouds, 6cm (2 3/8in) long; a jade group of a water buffalo with a boy sitting atop playing a flute, the stone of even olive-green tone, wood stand, 8cm (3 1/8in) long; and a jade carving of a recumbent qilin, grasping a lingzhi spray in its mouth, the greyish-green stone suffused with russet inclusions, 4.4cm (1 3/4in) long
(4).
Footnotes:
十八/十九世紀 玉雕動物 一組三件

Provenance: James Basil Wilson and Julia Wilson, and thence by descent

In 1945, James Basil Wilson returned from The Second World War having served with the Gurkhas. He married Julia Burke in 1949 and they moved to London. James started working for Iron and Steel Exporters and later that year, he was offered the chance to set up an office Hong Kong, so they moved there and set up home. The business was successful, they loved Hong Kong and they lived the life of ex-patriates to the full. They swam, played golf, made friends and indulged their passion for fast cars, competing in amateur road races. Julia claimed to have won at the first Macau Grand Prix. As well as enjoying the pastimes of the culture they brought with them, they developed an enduring love for China, Chinese people, Chinese food and Chinese art. With a growing family, they returned to England in 1957. They brought with them the pieces they had bought in Hong Kong and James made many trips to Hong Kong and continued to build their collection throughout the following decades mainly from dealers in London.

來源：James Basil Wilson與Julia Wilson伉儷舊藏，並由後人保存迄今

James Basil Wilson二戰期間曾於廓爾喀軍團服役，1945年返回英國。 1949年與Julia Burke結婚，婚後搬至倫敦，並開始為Iron and Steel Exporters效力，同年被委任籌備香港辦事處，遂移居香港。事業發展蒸蒸日上的同時，Wilson伉儷也充分享受著外派人士的理想生活；游泳、打高爾夫、結交朋友，沉迷賽車運動甚至參加業餘車手街道賽，Julia聲稱曾完賽首屆澳門格蘭披治大賽車。在保留西方生活方式的同時，Wilson伉儷也對中國及其民眾、美食和藝術產生了長久的熱情。 1957年，隨著家庭的不斷壯大，Wilson一家回到英國，並帶回了其在香港購置的藝術品。此後，James多次前往香港，並在接下來的幾十年中持續造訪倫敦的古董商，擴充藏品。

The water buffalo with very small chips to the extremities, the largest approx.0.4x0.3cm; the jade 'bat' pebble with very few stone flaws and tiny nicks, the largest approx 0.3x0.2cm; the qilin with tiny nicks, some stone flaws and old polished chip under the creature's left front paw, approx 1x0.8cm.