Chinese Works of ArtSMALL DISC WITH DRAGON HEADS AND PATTERN OF CLOUDSHAPED CURLS JUANYUN
Jade
China, Eastern Zhou, Spring and Autumn, 6th - 5th Century BC

卷雲紋龍頭小玉璧- 東周, 春秋, 公元前6世紀-前5世紀

Delicate, white jade disc with larger inner opening, a so-called huan. This small disc is decorated with variations of the scroll and dragon pattern commonly seen on late Spring and Autumn period jades. In this ring, carved out of white translucent jade with encrustations on part of the surface, the dragons’ heads are mingled with the scrolls but remain noticeable under closer inspection.This jade was directly next to a bronze, as shown by areas with green bronze patina, further soil deposits. The translucence is pure white, very good condition.

In archaeological contexts, discs with a similar decoration have been brought to light from numerous Spring and Autumn period tombs, including those at Zhongzhoulu, Luoyang, Henan province, Yimen, Baoji, Shaanxi province (tomb M2:105) and Jinsheng, Taiyuan, Shanxi (tomb M251).

This pendant is published in Filippo Salviati 4000 YEARS OF CHINESE ARCHAIC JADES Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no. 205

Provenance: From an old Austrian collection, acquired from R. H. Investment Comp. Ltd. London, between 1996- 1997

DIAMETER 3,8 CM 直徑3,8 厘米