A SINUOUS S-SHAPED DRAGON PENDANT WITH A PHOENIX AND CURLED APPENDAGES
A SINUOUS S-SHAPED DRAGON PENDANT WITH A PHOENIX AND CURLED APPENDAGES
Jade
China, Eastern Zhou (770-256 BC), 5th to 4th century BC
This finely carved jade is another example of an ornate Eastern Zhou sinuous dragon-shaped pendant with curled appendages. The curl at the top center of the body, where the suspension hole is drilled, takes the shape of a long-crested phoenix head in profile. The head of the dragon, with an open mouth, is turned back towards the phoenix: a large t-shaped extension fills the space delimited by the central bend of the body that terminates in a curled tail and is decorated with raised curls.
Dimensions: LENGTH 12.4 CM, WIDTH 7 CM
Condition: Although heavily altered with various areas of light and dark brown and white patches on both sides, there are still parts of the ornament that reveal the original lovely translucent pale green color of the jade.
Provenance: Austrian private collection