19th C. Chinese Qing Dynasty Jade Dragon Pendant
East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 19th to 20th century CE. A stunning jade pendant hand-carved in the form of a dragon with a meticulously detailed, sinuous body. Boasting a translucent hue of celadon with russet inclusions, the flattened adornment depicts the beast coiling in a characteristic "S" shape. Its bearded head slants downward displaying annular eyes, flared nostrils, and a curled ear, as its lengthy snout slightly opens to exhale a puff of smoke gently brushing the top of its chest. The body is carefully incised with scrolling striations representing scales. Spiraling extensions protrude from the peripheries of the body, complexing its form and transforming the dragon into multiple creatures, as seen in the bird-like heads at the bottom of the body and at the end of the tail. A drill hole in the stomach allows the piece to be suspended and worn as a pendant. Size: 1.6" W x 3.2" H (4.1 cm x 8.1 cm)
Chinese art has incorporated jade since the Neolithic period; quarries for nephrite, the formal name for one type of jade, have been found in modern-day southern Mongolia that date to ca. 4000 BCE. The stone was prized for its hardness, its beautiful coloration, and its durability. By the third millennium BCE, we know that jade had also come to be associated with immortality. Despite its hardness - a testament to the craftsmanship of early Chinese artisans - jade was used to make everything from everyday household objects and decoration to the ceremonial suits in which Han dynasty emperors were buried – with the belief that jade would preserve the body and the soul for eternity.
Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection; ex-Arts du Monde, New York, USA, before 2000
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#172358
Condition Report: Light surface wear as shown. Otherwise, intact, excellent, and wearable with impressive preservation of detail.
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East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 19th to 20th century CE. A stunning jade pendant hand-carved in the form of a dragon with a meticulously detailed, sinuous body. Boasting a translucent hue of celadon with russet inclusions, the flattened adornment depicts the beast coiling in a characteristic "S" shape. Its bearded head slants downward displaying annular eyes, flared nostrils, and a curled ear, as its lengthy snout slightly opens to exhale a puff of smoke gently brushing the top of its chest. The body is carefully incised with scrolling striations representing scales. Spiraling extensions protrude from the peripheries of the body, complexing its form and transforming the dragon into multiple creatures, as seen in the bird-like heads at the bottom of the body and at the end of the tail. A drill hole in the stomach allows the piece to be suspended and worn as a pendant. Size: 1.6" W x 3.2" H (4.1 cm x 8.1 cm)
Chinese art has incorporated jade since the Neolithic period; quarries for nephrite, the formal name for one type of jade, have been found in modern-day southern Mongolia that date to ca. 4000 BCE. The stone was prized for its hardness, its beautiful coloration, and its durability. By the third millennium BCE, we know that jade had also come to be associated with immortality. Despite its hardness - a testament to the craftsmanship of early Chinese artisans - jade was used to make everything from everyday household objects and decoration to the ceremonial suits in which Han dynasty emperors were buried – with the belief that jade would preserve the body and the soul for eternity.
Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection; ex-Arts du Monde, New York, USA, before 2000
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#172358
Condition Report: Light surface wear as shown. Otherwise, intact, excellent, and wearable with impressive preservation of detail.
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Time, Location
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