AN ARCHAISTIC YELLOW JADE ‘DRAGON AND PHEONIX’ PENDANT, SONG TO MING DYNASTY
China, 960-1644. Of flattened form, finely carved in openwork on both sides as a dragon shown in profile, intertwined with a phoenix, the body issuing a further bird head. The surface decorated with dots and comma scrolls, some of which are interconnected. The smooth, superbly polished, translucent stone is of a fine yellow tone with pale brown shadings.


Provenance:
Collection of Robert and Isabelle de Strycker, acquired from the above and thence by descent in the same family. One side with an old collection label. Robert de Strycker (1903-1968) was a French engineer who specialized in metallurgy. He was a Stanford graduate, a professor at the University of Leuven, a director of the Institute of Metallurgy at the Université Catholique de Louvain, and one of the most influential members of the faculty of applied sciences. After World War II, he made large contributions to France’s post-war recovery. Robert and his wife Isabelle (1915-2010) first encountered Chinese art at the British Museum during a stay in London in the 1930s. Enamored with the style and beauty, they both decided to study and collect Chinese works of art. In 1938 they eventually began to build their collection, buying from Belgian, Parisian, and English dealers. They kept close contact with the famous English collector Sir Harry Garner (1891-1977) and noted Czech collector and expert Fritz Low-Beer (1906-1976).

Condition:
Very good condition with only minor old wear. The stone with natural fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairlines. Magnificent ancient polish with a decent sheen overall.

Weight: 48.3 g
Dimensions: Length 10.7 cm


Literature comparison:

For the prototype to the present lot, see a related jade ‘dragon and phoenix’ pendant, 6 cm long, dated to the Western Han dynasty, at Christie’s New York, 25 March 2022, lot 706.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 25 September 2020, lot 1766
Price: USD 11,875 or approx.
EUR 13,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pale gray jade archaistic ‘dragon’ pendant, Song- Ming dynasty
Expert remark: Note the size (12 cm).




宋至明黃玉龍鳳紋佩

中國，960-1644年。玉佩雕刻成彎曲的龍形，龍首回望，龍身浮雕雲紋，出鳳首，龍鳳相纏。黃色調的半透明石料，邊緣帶有黃褐色陰影。


來源：
Robert與Isabelle de Strycker收藏，在同一家族保存至今。一面可見一個收藏標籤。Robert de Strycker (1903-1968) 是一位法國冶金工程師。他畢業於斯坦福大學，曾是魯汶大學教授，同時也是魯汶天主教大學冶金研究所所長，是應用科學學院最有影響力的成員之一。二戰後，他為法國的戰後復興做出了巨大貢獻。Robert與他的妻子Isabelle （1915-2010）於 上世紀三十年代在大英博物館首次接觸到中國藝術。因爲其風格和美感所吸引，他們決定研究和收藏中國藝術品。1938 年，他們開始建立自己的收藏，從比利時、巴黎和英國經銷商處購買。 他們與英國著名收藏家Harry Garner爵士（1891-1977）和捷克著名收藏家兼專家Fritz Low-Beer (1906-1976）保持著密切聯繫。

品相：
狀況非常好，只有輕微的舊磨損。 石頭上有天然裂縫，其中一些可能已發展成細小的髮絲。華麗的古代拋光，整體光澤良好。

重量：48.3 克
尺寸：長 10.7 厘米


文獻比較：

一件相近的西漢灰白玉龍鳳紋珮，長6 厘米，見紐約佳士得，2022年3月25日，lot 706。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2020年9月25日，lot 1766
價格：USD 11,875（相當於今日
EUR 13,000
）
描述：宋/明玉雕仿古龍形珮
專家評論：請注意尺寸(12 厘米)。