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.
20th.Feb.2010:SOLD and will be removed from collection in a week's time.
Antique and Antique Collecting
Antiques have always lured those with a passion for the past and its cultural significance. Antique collecting though is a serious hobby which requires the hobbyist to posses a great deal of information on the history and other correlating facts if they are to land a reasonable purchase. Most often if not antiques make their way into the mainstream market via simple garage sales, auction houses etc. wherein the owner would have overlooked the significance of these precious collectables.
A reflection and testimony of the glorious past, Antiques are undoubtedly rare. Perhaps that is why Antiques have been collected and preserved for over thousands of years as a souvenir and tribute to what has been and gone. After all, those heard are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter!
Antique collecting has been in the books since the 16th century, gaining momentum through the 18th century to grow into what is now a healthy international business thats on par with the art industry. Some individuals prefer to collect antiques from a specific era, while most are into specific objects and aim at a timeline based collection such as vintage cars or clocks from the 1950s for example. The purchase of antiques is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the effort that goes into their maintenance. Most objects would be anywhere in the range of 50 to 100 years old. The biggest culprit to an antiques degradation is exposure to natural elements, even the air in most cases!
Over the years, antique collecting has taken another curious twist as certain home décor trends these days reflect on a retro feel. For this reason a lot of long lost furniture and clothing styles from half a century ago have found their way back into the current world with small changes that help them amalgamate into the 21st century. This trend of commercially viable antiques has had a negative impact on the market as replicas of famous antiques have been making the rounds and authenticity issues are far too common. Examples for the same would be pendulum clocks, bone china and the 1970 – 1979 contemporary modern furniture.
When it comes to venturing towards a purchase, its best for an individual to take assistance from the nearest antique dealer organization as it would guarantee both its authenticity as well as cover any legalities. Most often the replica market supplies the same antiques at a much lower price and the buyer could suffer serious repercussions on purchasing from such sources as these pieces are not officially accounted for. Antique collecting needs to be met with diligence and maturity in order to successfully sustain the past in the present. 
