Chinese Figure of a Mythical Beast with Turtle

A beast, a turtle, and a good deal of tangled ribbon.

Chinese jade carvers made this figure of a mythical beast with a turtle in the 20th century. Beasts and turtles are traditional motifs in Chinese art, where the turtle is often linked with longevity. The stone is a pale, milky green, carved in openwork with a curled beast peering over a lattice ball, scrolling ribbons and the rounded shell of the turtle below. The surface is smooth and polished, with fine details around the face.

About four inches tall. Intricate enough to reward a second, third and fourth look.