Lot 174a, Auction 4/3/2026: Chinese Qing Stone Bixie Carving – Two Horns

$455.00

In stock

East Asia, China, late Qing Dynasty, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A compact and finely polished stone carving of a bixie, the mythical guardian beast long associated with protection and the warding off of malevolent forces. Shown recumbent with its legs tucked beneath its body, the creature raises its head alertly, its two horns projecting from the brow – a distinguishing feature often linked to powerful, protective variants of the type. The form is smoothly modeled, with curling brows, rounded haunches, and a subtly arched spine that gives the figure a sense of contained strength. The stone, warm ivory to honey brown in tone, has been carefully polished to a soft luster, emphasizing both the muscular contours and the stylized facial features. In Qing decorative and talismanic tradition, bixie were believed to dispel evil and attract auspicious energy. Size: 4.1″ L x 1.8″ W x 1.3″ H (10.4 cm x 4.6 cm x 3.3 cm)

Miniature carvings such as this were cherished as protective objects, scholarly desk ornaments, or personal talismans, uniting mythic symbolism with refined craftsmanship.

Condition: Some minor scuffs and scratches to surface, but, otherwise, intact and excellent with nice detail.

Provenance: ex-T.F. Holy Lands collection, formed since the 1960s

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