Lot 1216. A large greyish-green jade dragon-form pendant, Warring States period, 4th century BC; 7½in. (19 cm.) wide. Estimate USD 6,000 - USD 8,000. Price realised USD 18,750. © Christie's Images Ltd 2019

The pendant is carved in the form of a dragon with S-shaped body, its head with slit mouth and coiled snout, turned towards the arched back and curling, bifurcated tail. Each side is carved in low relief with comma spirals within plain borders. A small suspension hole is drilled from one side in the center. The stone, of pale grey or grey-green color with streaks of darker grey or black speckles, retains some of its translucency, and also has areas of opaque buff alteration, stand.

Provenance: Bluett & Sons, London, 1990.
Ashkenazie & Co., San Francisco (originally sold as a pair).
Dr. Leonard and Mrs. Ann Marsak Collection.

Literature: Bluett & Sons, London, Mu-fei Collection, 1990, no. 23, one of a pair (bottom in illustration).

Exhibited: Bluett & Sons, London, Mu-fei Collection, 1990, no. 23, one of a pair.

Note: A number of similar pendants from the Central Plain region share the same feature of a bifurcated tail. For an example of a dragon pendant of this type, but with a very clearly defined bird's head tail, see an example from the G. L. Winthrop Collection in the Fogg Art Museum illustrated by Max Loehr, Ancient Chinese Jades, Cambridge, 1975, p. 287, no. 427. Compare, also, a pair of dragon pendants from the same collection with similar rendering of the scrolls and dragons' features illustrated, ibid., p. 296, no. 433. An apparantly unfinished (undecorated) pendant, of an outline very similar to that of the present pendant, is also illustrated, p. 294, no. 429. The stone is described as of grey-green color with streaks of black particles, which also describes the stone of the present pendant.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, New York, 18 - 19 September 2014