Jade. China, Eastern Zhou, Spring and Autumn period, 6th – 5th century BC龍頭紋玉環 - 東周春秋時代, 公元前6世紀-前5世紀

Diameter 10.2 cm直徑 10.2 厘米

The seemingly abstract, very regular pattern carved on both sides of this simple yet sophisticated ornamental ring, is actually made up of four highly stylized dragon heads arranged in a circle. The animals are enclosed within two thin bands, marked with an incised line that runs around the inner and outer edges of the ring. The snout, mouth and ear of the dragons are rendered with engraved curls, while the oval eyes are incised and filled with criss-cross etched lines. Pairs of s-shaped motifs accompanied by hooked, comma shaped elements filled with etched lines, are carved in the areas between the dragons’ heads.

There is a noticeable, irregular thickness to the disc, which is thinner in one specific point. The light green, partly translucent jade is almost completely coloured with mottled amber hues that are darker towards the external areas. On one side, almost half of the disc presents heavy alterations: the jade is polished and generally quite smooth, even in the altered areas.

Literature comparison/Archaeological sites: An Eastern Zhou disc carved with a similar pattern was excavated in 1991 at Xujialing (Xichuan county, Henan province) and is illustrated in S. Lee (ed.), China 5000 years. Innovation and Transformation in the Arts, Solomon R. Guggenhein Museum, New York 1998, no.15. Compare also four huang pendants decorated with similar motifs and published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.206.

Expertise: Prof. Dr. Filippo Salviati

From an Austrian collection奧地利老佔有

All jades in this catalogue have been professionally examined, authenticated and described by Prof. Fillipo Salviati. Professor Salviati teaches Chinese and Korean art at Sapienza University in Rome, in the Italian Institute of Oriental Studies. He is a world expert on archaic Chinese jades, having released multiple publications and being cited by renowned auction houses such as Sotheby’s.