Chinese Ming Dynasty Stone Dragon Turtle - Longgui

East Asia, China, Ming Dynasty, ca. 1368 to 1644 CE. A hand-carved stone sculpture of an amalgam mythological creature known as a dragon turtle ('longgui' in Chinese) with the body, legs, tail, shell carapace of a turtle and the scaled neck and fearsome head of a dragon. The shell is incised with repeating striations around the periphery and with scale-like geometric patterns on the topside. The dragon head bears an attenuated snout with incised teeth, almond-shaped eyes, and a flowing mane. Dragon turtles were believed to positively influence success, courage, fertility, and determination, and were typically placed facing towards a window within a structure. Size: 11.375" L x 8" W x 6.25" H (28.9 cm x 20.3 cm x 15.9 cm)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, purchased in Hong Kong in the 1980s

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#150956
Condition Report: Nicks and abrasions to head, neck, shell carapace, and underside, with softening to some incised details, and light encrustations, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits throughout. Old inventory label beneath base.