'Nature's Paintbrush' Jasper Carving of a Mare and Foal by W.K. Ngai

'Nature's Paintbrush' Jasper Carving of a Mare and Foal by W.K. Ngai China Carved from a single boulder of jasper known in the trade as 'Nature's Paintbrush', the grey portions utilized to suggest the figure of the galloping mare and foal, the ochre portions utilized to depict the landscape. Raised on a polished base of black onyx. Measuring 11 x 8 1/2 x 5 in Footnotes: W.K. Ngai With the equivalent of US$40, a cutting machine, and a vision, W.K. Ngai founded a gemstone cutting workshop in Hong Kong in 1964. Starting at first with cabochons, he gradually learned the techniques and secrets of the masters for cutting gemstones. By 1979, W.K. became one of the first in the industry to open a factory in China with seven employees, devoting extraordinary time, effort and patience to train men who were once farmers to become master gemstone carvers. At its peak, the factory employed over 1,000 workers with over 300 of them being physically disabled. The workshop is now closed and Ngai retired, thus the carvings offered here are all limited edition. Lot to be sold without reserve. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing