The Jade(Nephrite) is light green and both the horse and monkey on top is well portrayed. An above average example of a monkey on top of a horse Jade carving.One can see a few more examples in the auction catalogues. The main reason for posting this,is that,most do not know why chose such an odd subject - Monkey on top of Horse. The reason - it is a REBUS and in Mandarin pinyin is MA SHANG (FENG) HOU.

Carving meaning :MA(Horse) Shang(On Top) HOU(Monkey)

Rebus meaning   :MASHANG(Instant) HOU(Rank of Marquis)

This usually is given to people starting a new career to wish them instant promotion to the rank of a Marquis i.e. a meteoric rise in their climb up the corporate ladder!

NOTE:The proper phrase should be MA SHANG FENG HOU with the FENG to repesent WIND in the carving and PROMOTION in the rebus. The problem is how to represent something so intangible (WIND) and this is not so obvious in the above carving and most carving on this subject. My wife has a Pink Tourmaline pendant carving (Qing 18th.C,China)of the same subject, where the wind(FENG) is indirectly represented by carving the monkey leaning forward with the left hand holding onto the horse's tail for support as if to prevent the WIND from blowing it away!

26th.Oct '07 Have posted the abovementioned Tourmaline Monkey on top of Horse in collection 'Few of my Favourite Things'. 

1st.dec.'07:Just added in the images of Tourmaline of Monkey on Horse. 

A quirk interpretation of MASHANG HOU - could be BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON - INSTANT EASY STREET!!! 

To expand your knowledge on Jade,please visit the website of the Friends of Jade given in the links.