A CHINESE CHICKEN-BONE JADE CARVING OF ZHOU YANZI

18TH CENTURY

The boy carved standing holding a bucket in his left hand, with a large deer skin draped over his back and head, depicted with a cheerful expression on his face and his hair tied in two buns, 8.7cm.

Figures of Zhou Yanzi represent filial piety. According to a Chinese folk tale, Zhou Yanzi wore a deer skin in order to mingle with a herd and obtain milk from a doe to cure his ailing father.