Lot 915, An opaque buff and greyish-green jade huang, Warring States Period, 5th century BC. Estimate USD 20,000 ~ 30,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2016.

Each side is carved with 'cloud' scrolls interspersed with two bird-headed scrolls with striated details, and separated by a striated border from the similarly decorated ends that represent abstract dragon heads with angular notched edges. A similar striated border outlines the front edge of each head and encircles the suspension holes drilled from each side. A third, smaller hole is drilled below the upper edge. The greyish-green stone is now opaque and of buff color from alteration. 3 5/8 in. (9.3 cm.) wide, box

Provenance: B. K. Wong, Hong Kong, 21 May 1987.

Literature: Nicole De Bisscop, Chinese Jade and Scroll Paintings from the Dongxi Collection, Brussels, 1995, p. 47, no. 16.

Exhibited: Chinese Jade and Scroll Paintings from the Dongxi Collection, Kredietbank Gallery, Brussels, 25 October - 17 December 1995; Kredietbank Luxembourg, 1 February - 13 April 1996, no. 16.

Notes: The shape and decoration of this huang are similar to one of smaller size (7.2 cm.) dated Spring and Autumn period, from the tomb of Minister Zhao of State of Jin, Jinshengcun, Taiyuan, Shanxi province, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Jades Unearthed in China, vol. 3, Beijing, 2005, p. 177. Compare, also, the similarly decorated example (8.6 cm.) from Yanshan, Wuxian Jiangsu province, illustrated ibid., vol. 7, p. 58. Another similar huang (11.5 cm.) in the Qing Court Collection is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 40 - Jadeware (I), Hong Kong, 1995, p. 132, pl. 110.

Christie's. DONGXI STUDIO- IMPORTANT CHINESE JADE AND HARDSTONE CARVINGS FROM A DISTINGUISHED PRIVATE COLLECTION, 17 March 2016, New York, Rockefeller Plaza