Group of seven rock crystal animal carvings

A group of seven miniature animals carved from rock crystal, comprising a mythical bird with outstretched wings, two bears, two rams, a rabbit and a duck. The animals are realistically carved, and each animal is drilled through.  On all animals, the clear crystal has some rust markings, presumably due to them having being in close proximity to metal objects.

•  The drill holes on these exquisitely carved miniature animals indicate that they were meant to be used as beads, perhaps for the type of elaborate pectoral ornament that was popular at the time.  Similar rock crystal animals are in the collection of Julius Eberhardt in Vienna.1  Krahl refers to a comparable piece found in an Eastern Han royal burial at Li Bo Zhang, Chengzhuangzhen, Linyi county, Shandong province.2   Several similar examples from the Taoshi Zhai collection, all dated to the Eastern Han dynasty (25 – 220), were included in the exhibition Sparkling Splendours - The Art of Ancient Chinese Carvings on Rock Crystal and Agate at the Art Museum, Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2000.3  

1. Krahl, R. Sammlung Julius Eberhardt, Frühe chinesische Kunst, Vienna, 1999, nos. 81-7, pp. 144-5
2. Krahl, R. op. cit. p. 144
3. Chow, R. Sparkling Splendours - The Art of Ancient Chinese Carvings on Rock Crystal and Agate - The Taoshi Zhai Collection, The Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000, cat. nos. 202 and 213