A CELADON AND RUSSET JADE ‘DRAGON’ PENDANT, HUANG,... Lot n° 154

A CELADON AND RUSSET JADE ‘DRAGON’ PENDANT, HUANG, LATE EASTERN ZHOU PERIOD, 770-256 BC Published: Filippo Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, 2017, pp. 252-253, no. 268. Of arched form, each extremity is finely carved with detailed dragon heads in profile with strongly marked features. The slightly open mouths show the menacing teeth and fangs, and the eyes are stressed with a slanting line, the snout is bold and there is a tuft of hair under the chin. The heads, whose contours are highlighted by a plain, narrow band that also delimits the central, arched section of the pendant, are separated from the rest of the body by another tuft of hair engraved with thin parallel lines. The central, arched portion of each flat side is filled with small curls in low relief and is pierced at the top with a central aperture. The celadon jade with rich deep brown, almost black inclusions, as well as calcifications. Provenance: Private collection of Prof. C. Eberhard Klein, Germany. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and natural imperfections. Some erosion and shallow surface scratches. Weight: 78.3 g Dimensions: Length 16.2 cm This huang shows a degree of complexity in design marked by its sophisticated and rich details. It is representative of a style that was primarily diffused in eastern Anhui, northern Jiangsu (Xuzhou area) and western Shandong provinces, characterized by high quality workmanship, detailed carving, openwork patterns, and dragons as well as phoenixes as main motifs. Literature comparison: Compare three related jades, from the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, published 1996, nos. 137, 138, and 139. Auction comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 18 March 2014, lot 149 Price: USD 62,500 or approx. EUR 77,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A fine and rare jade pendant (huang), Eastern Zhou Dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and similar carving of the dragon head. Note the color.