Lot 18, A pair of large pale green jade dragon plaques, Warring States Period-Han Dynasty. Each 26.5cm (10 3/8in) long. Estimate HK$ 200,000 - 300,000 (€23,000 - 35,000). Sold for HK$ 525,000 (€ 62,276). Photo: Bonhams.

Each flat plaque carved in the form of a long sinuous dragon with a slit mouth and prominent snout, undulating in a narrow'S'-shape, decorated on both sides of the body with a ground of small spiraling scrolls in low relief, drilled with a tiny circular aperture, the stone of an even pale green tone with minor opaque white inclusions. (2).

Note: It is rare to find plaques or pendants of this particular slender dragon-form in this large size. With the development of large capital cities and expansion of inter-regional trade and commerce, a generation of enormous wealth grew during this period. Demand for a wide category of luxury goods including personal ornaments such as garment rings, pendants and plaques increased. Large plaques such as the present lot would have been expensive to acquire. 

Compare a similar green 'dragon' jade plaque (17.1cm long), illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade 3, Beijing, 2011, p.166, no.170. 

A similarly formed partially calcified pale green jade 'dragon' pendant, Warring States period, was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 October 2001, lot 754.

Bonhams. THE SZE YUAN TANG COLLECTION OF CHINESE JADES, 11:00 HKT - HONG KONG, ADMIRALTY