Lot 5. A pale green jade bead, Western Zhou Dynasty (1050-771 BC); 5.7cm (2 1/2in) long. Estimate HK$ 80,000 - 120,000 (€9,000 - 14,000). Sold for HK$ 750,000 (€ 89,175). Photo: Bonhams.

Of long slightly flaring tubular form, carved with incised stylised dragon-form scrolls within wide rope twist-shaped registers, the stone of an even pale green tone.

Note: By the middle to late Western Zhou dynasty, more complex surface decoration was executed on jade carvings, including composite creatures often interlaced. The present lot's decoration of stylised dragons in profile within parallel spiralling bands, is exceptionally vibrant and detailed, with the various depths, angles and finely incised lines.

Compare a yellow-brown jade bead with very similar form and decoration, dated Western Zhou, in the Sir Joseph Hotung collection, illustrated by J.Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, p.240, no.14:3.

Bonhams. THE SZE YUAN TANG COLLECTION OF CHINESE JADES, Hong Kong, 5 April 2016