AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE EASTERN ZHOU SINUOUS DRAGON PENDANT WITH PHOENIX HEADS AND CURLED APPENDAGES
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE EASTERN ZHOU SINUOUS DRAGON PENDANT WITH PHOENIX HEADS AND CURLED APPENDAGES
Jade
China, Eastern Zhou (770-256 BC), 4th to 3rd century BC
This beautiful and complex pendant is carved as a dragon with a long, s-shaped body that is further embellished with curled and truncated appendages and bird heads: the design is so dense that is almost difficult to discern the various parts. The turned back head and the s-shaped curve define the dragon’s body, while the truncated appendages indicate the feet, tail and short wings. A short rectangular bar with carved scrolls at the center connects one part of the curved body to the other. Three stylized bird heads, with curved beaks and rounded eyes, emerge from different points of the dragon: one is at the bottom, perched on the extension in the cut-out area below the arch in the body. A second, barely recognizable bird head is located near the tail, and the third, more detailed bird, rests on the dragon’s tail and its body merges with that of the dragon. The dragon is covered with small raised curls, while the appendages are decorated with parallel lines.
Dimensions: LENGTH 10.5 CM, WIDTH 5.5 CM
Condition: The highly polished translucent light green jade has an almost yellowish tinge to it and is partially covered by a white patina due to the natural alteration of jade over time.
Provenance: Old Austrian private collection