AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE BRONZE FIGURE OF A DRAGON LIAO / JIN DYNASTY

marvelously cast seated on three powerful legs, its right forepaw raised and holding a 'flaming pearl' in its claw, its ferocious head detailed with a pair of long curled horns above large protruding eyes and a long upturned snout exposing sharp fangs and a curled tongue, the scaly body sinuously curved with long flowing flames issuing from its shoulders and saw-tooth dorsal fin extending down its spine trailing to a upturned curving tail, the underside with two small square apertures, the surface with malachite and azure encrustation, traces of gilt
Height 3 3/4 in., 9.5 cm

Provenance:
Collection of Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978).