Group of three small Chinese jade or hardstone figurines including a dog, a ram, and a fish. Delicately carved and the fish with russet inclusions.

Provenance: From the Estate of C. Curtis "Curt" Dunnavan, Long Lake, Minnesota.

C. Curtis "Curt" Dunnavan (1926-2022) was a passionate world traveler and avid collector. It was through his travels that he was inspired to begin a lifelong relationship with the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), becoming a major sponsor of the institute and facilitating the growth of their Asian art department, which is now one of the best in the country. His generous donations to Mia allowed them to establish a fund for the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, one of the few endowed positions of this type in the museum field. He additionally served as a trustee of the institute, advocating for its operational growth. In its turn, the museum established a gallery named in his honor in recognition for his endowment fund and numerous contributions to their collection. The selections here showcase his talent and breadth of collecting, ranging from ancient statues to 19th-century woodblock prints. His appreciation for art persisted throughout his life and we are honored to offer items from his collection in this auction.
Height ranges from 1 in to 1 1/2 in; width ranges from 1 1/2 in to 2 in; depth ranges from 1/4 in to 1/2 in. There are no major cracks, chips, or losses to all three items. Natural lines visible as expected throughout all figures: along the natural lines, there is discoloration as shown in listing image. Light wear throughout as expected from age. To the exterior of the fish figure, there is a network of red minute accretions. No visible signs of restoration under UV light.