A PALE GREEN AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF A QILIN CARRYING BOOKS Ming Dynasty The horned mythical beast carved with bulging eyes beneath bushy brows, its legs tucked under its body and head raised issuing ruyi vaporous clouds, supporting a bundle of books on its back, finely detailed with scales on its legs and thighs, the rear with a carefully-incised mane, the stone of a very pale green tone with beige inclusions. 7.3cm (3in) long. Footnotes: Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價 明 玉雕麒麟負書 Provenance: a Scottish private collection Bonhams London, 17 May 2012, lot 81 來源：蘇格蘭私人舊藏 倫敦邦瀚斯，2012年5月17日，拍品編號81 The qilin issuing a jade book from its mouth recalls the dream that Confucius' mother had, just before he was born. She dreamt that a qilin came to her door with a jade book in its mouth. The phrase lin tu yushu (qilin issuing a jade book) is used as a wish for the birth of an illustrious male child, as the qilin is believed to only appear before the birth of a sage. A carving such as this would have been given as a gift to a wealthy family on the birth of a male child. See a related white and russet jade carving of a qilin and books, Ming dynasty, 17th century, which was sold at Christie's London, 24 March 2011, lot 1484. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com