A Fine Quality Stone Figure Kwan Kong on Horse Statue circa mid 20th century

Who is Kwan Kong (Guan Yu) and why is he on a horse?

Collectors sometimes see these figures described as “Kwan Kong,” “Kwan Yu,” “Guandi,” or simply “Chinese warrior.” In Chinese religious and folk tradition, Guan Yu became a powerful symbol of loyalty, righteousness, and protection, so his image is often placed in businesses and homes as a guardian.

On sculpture, common identifiers include a long beard, an armored chest, an authoritative pose, and a horse sculpted in motion or at rest. The sculptor’s goal is not only likeness but also “presence” — the stance and facial expression are part of how viewers recognize the subject.

What stone is it really? (Jade vs. serpentine vs. soapstone)

The word “jade” is used loosely online. In strict gemological terms, jade refers to nephrite or jadeite. Many decorative carvings are instead made from serpentine, “new jade,” quartz, or other green stones.

Practical, non-destructive checks you can do at home include:

• Cold touch: denser stones feel cool longer than resin or plastic.
• Translucency: shine a bright flashlight through thinner edges; better jade often glows.
• Surface & tool marks: modern rotary tools can leave fine, consistent lines in recesses.
• Weight: jade and dense stone feel heavier than expected for size.

Avoid destructive “scratch tests” unless a professional instructs you to. If value hinges on whether it is true jade, a gemologist can confirm material with refractive index and microscopy.

Dating a mid-20th-century carving (and why marks are rare)

Many mid-century carvings were produced for the export and tourist markets and were not signed. Lack of a signature does not automatically mean “old” or “valuable,” but it also doesn’t disqualify the piece.

Clues that often support a mid-20th-century date include clean, consistent polish; uniform wear patterns (rather than centuries of handling); and mounting/base solutions that look modern (factory-cut wooden plinths, felt pads, metal pins).

Condition checklist (the details that move the price)

Carved stone is unforgiving: chips and breaks are common, and repairs are frequently disguised with wax, stain, or over-polish. For value, treat these as the biggest swing factor after material.

• Chips on protruding points (horse ears, weapon tips, beard ends) are the most common.
• Hairline cracks can run through the horse’s legs or the rider’s torso—photograph under raking light.
• Old repairs (glue lines, filled losses) reduce collector appeal unless disclosed and professionally done.
• Base stability matters: a loose pin or wobbling mount can signal hidden breaks.

Value range: what a fair price looks like

For a typical mid-20th-century Kwan Kong on horse carving in green stone marketed as jade, values commonly cluster in the low hundreds of dollars. The legacy appraisal estimate of $300–$400 is consistent with the market for a well-carved decorative example in good condition.

Expect higher values when the statue is larger/heavier (shipping friction aside), the stone has attractive translucency and color, and the carving has strong “faces and hands” detail. Expect lower values for soft soapstone, heavy repairs, or poorly defined carving.

Auction comps you can use as anchors

Exact “Guan Yu on horseback” comps can be scarce in any single auction dataset, so it’s common to triangulate value from comparable Chinese jade/stone carvings with horse subjects or figural groups. The sales below are real auction results pulled from the Appraisily auction dataset.

• Christie’s (Sept 19, 2024), Lot 884 — “Greenish-white and brown jade carving of a recumbent horse” — $25,200 hammer.
• Elstob Auctioneers (Jan 22, 2025), Lot 182 — “19th century Chinese jade carving of a recumbent horse” — £1,100 hammer.
• Marques dos Santos (Feb 22, 2025), Lot 122 — “Pair of jade archaistic horse riders, Minguo” — €225 hammer.
• Wealthier Art & Auction (Feb 22, 2025), Lot 1173 — “Chinese russet jade sculpture of horse” — $300 hammer.

Why these matter: they show how much period, quality, and stone type affect price. High-end “dynasty” jade from major houses can be orders of magnitude higher than decorative mid-century carvings. The mid-century market tends to sit closer to the lower two anchors above unless the stone and carving are exceptional.

How to sell a Kwan Kong on horse statue

For most mid-century stone carvings, the biggest mistake is listing with poor photos and vague claims (“ancient,” “imperial,” “100% jade”). Buyers discount heavily when details aren’t documented.

• Best venues: local consignment, regional auction houses with Asian art days, or reputable online auctions.
• What to photograph: full views, underside/base, close-ups of face and hands, and any damage.
• Shipping: heavy stone breaks easily—double-box, immobilize the statue, and insure for replacement value.