A PALE GREEN JADE 'MYTHICAL BEAST' OPENWORK BELT-BUCKLEJin/Yuan DynastyExpertly carved and pierced with a pair of one-horned mythical beasts ortianlu beneath a leafy tree, all amidst gnarled rockwork and auspiciouslingzhi fungus, the stone of pale greyish-green tone.7.6cm (3in) wide.For further information on this lot please visit theProvenance: 金/元 青白玉天祿辟邪帶釦It is rare to see a jade belt-buckle carved withtianlu andbixie, the male and femalepixiu together on piece.Tianlu were said to be in charge of wealth and so went out into the world in search of gold and other treasures, while the femalebixie guarded them once the treasure returned home. Displaying atianlu therefore was meant to prevent wealth from flowing away.玉色灰青，帶扣呈橢圓形，鏤空雕刻天鹿一對，其鬚髮、尾巴陰刻線條規整，身軀粗壯，細頸，身形如鹿，頭生單角，居於樹下，山石間靈芝長於天鹿兩旁。同時雕有天祿與辟邪之帶釦十分少見。天鹿又稱「天祿」，是古代傳說中的瑞獸，一角者為天鹿，為雄性，兩角者則為辟邪，乃雌性。有說天鹿主財，會於世間尋金淘寶，加上「鹿」音同「祿」，寓意榮祿昌盛。配搭靈芝，更添如意長壽之美好寓意。