Featured Asian Carved Stone Mythical Beast in Glass Box - Who and Stone?

It was very difficult to get a good picture of this small (5" x 3.5") carved mythical beast, because it is encased in a see-through, glass box with a wood frame that is 10.5"x10". I don't know what beast is being portrayed. I'm not quite sure why this beast is framed like this. Is it a decorator item or is it because the carving is important? At first, I thought soapstone but when I shined a light through the back, it appears to be translucent to some extent. The first picture is the clearest of the figure, as I put a paper behind it. The rest are quite poor as I tried to capture the actual view.
I compared it to a white jade piece I bought around 20 years ago at a museum that had a fantastic exhibit of Chinese jade. The museum jade was far more translucent, but the piece is much thinner. (The last photo) I am flummoxed. I couldn't find anything like it to get started. Help! Please!

 

Ooops. The whole thing.

 

Oooh! Let me look that up!

 

Bingo. I found a couple of similar images. Thank you.

 

Looks like a Pixiu.

 

This one doesn't have 4 legs.

 

Ok. Thanks for the lead!

 

You're right. I missed that.

 

I can see this too. Thank you.

 

You are too bad!

 

How about a better photo of the Chinese writing on the last photo?

I can already make out many of the words, just not all of them...

 

It is possibly crafted from Alabaster.

 

Thank you for looking at this. I chopped it up into three pictures, because the writing was in silver and behind glass. I kept getting reflections. I hope it doesn't say "Famous piece in glass."

 

Thank you ritzy. I'll try that.

 

Nan Jing Museum souvenir piece for visitors/tourists, mass produced. Copy of a jade dragon from Han dynasty.

 

I had a feeling that was the case. I buy souvenirs all the time from Museums. Thank you. Nice Museum. When I was in China, we just had time to hit the high points - great wall, Terracota soldiers etc. I'd like to go back. Fascinating place.

 

Are we talking the original piece or the white souvenir piece I got from a museum in California?

 

南京侽物阮珍宝——汉代玉龙
Ruan Treasures of Nanjing's Yiwu-Jade Dragon of Han Dynasty