Bamboo Root Carving of Monkey on Horse, Symbolizing Good Wishes for Immediate Granting of a Peerage

This full form carving of a bamboo root depicts a semi-reclining horse, with head turned back to gaze upon its rear haunches, upon which a small monkey holding a peach sits. This carving signifies good wishes for immediate granting of a peerage, based on a homonym between horseback (ma shang) and immediate (ma shang), and peerage (hou) and monkey (hou). Though this work is small in size, extensive care was taken in fashioning the forms, expressions, and muscular lines of the animals depicted. This work was originally included in a treasure box as a curio and plaything.