A WHITE JADE 'WATER BUFFALO GAZING AT THE MOON VESSEL' AND COVER Late Qing Dynasty/Republic Period Smoothly carved recumbent with legs tucked neatly beneath the large body with defined rib and tail sweeping across the left haunch, the head with curling horns gazing upwards, the cover formed as a circular disc incised with calligraphic inscription supported on wispy clouds, the stone of even pale white tone, carved wood stand. 10cm (4in) long. (3). Footnotes: 晚清/民國 白玉犀牛望月詩文擺件 Provenance: Bill Spiers Trudy and John Cohen, collection no.H4 來源： Bill Spiers Trudy及John Cohen伉儷，收藏編號H4 The inscription on the cover reads: 早卜牛眠倚翠螺，出山時少在山多，始知大孝終身慕，我亦為公廢蓼莪。 Which may be translated as: Long ago, a final resting place by the emerald spiral of the hills was chosen through divination. I spent little time away from the mountains, and much within them. Only now do I realize that true filial devotion is a lifelong yearning; for your sake, I too have ceased reciting the Liao E. The inscription alludes to the 'cessation of Liao E' (蓼莪废), a reference to the Jin-dynasty figure Wang Pou 王裒 (d.311), celebrated for his filial piety. After the death of his parents, Wang Pou could no longer recite the poem Liao'e from the Classic of Poetry (詩經), as its expressions of parental loss overwhelmed him with grief. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y Y Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the UK, see clause 13. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing