A ‘DRAGON AND PHOENIX’ SCABBARD SLIDE, WESTERN HANJade. China, Western Han, c. 207 BC – 9 ADThe scabbard slide is partly executed in openwork to depict a dragon and phoenix amid scrolling clouds. Their sinuous bodies are intertwined and detailed with finely incised lines. The translucent stone is of a pale celadon color with creamy white to brown inclusions.LENGTH 9.2 cmProvenance: Private Collection of Irene and Wolfgang Zacke (1942-2022), acquired at China Guardian Auctions, Hong Kong, 30 May 2017, lot 1233 (dated to Han dynasty or later).