East Asia, China, Ming to Qing Dynasty, ca. 1500 to 1900 CE. A rare and charming nephrite jade pig dragon, carved into an almost circular, C-shaped beast with a sizable fin emerging from its back, an extended snout, and an upturned nose. Biconically drilled for suspension. The style is the same as one excavated from the famed Hongshan Neolithic mound, a huge burial site in Inner Mongolia, and represents a mythical creature from the time when the ancient Chinese were developing their understanding of the world. Note the gorgeous natural hues of the stone, boasting mottled shades of sage, celadon, and caramel; truly a stunning example! Size: 4.3" W x 4" H (10.9 cm x 10.2 cm)

Chinese art has incorporated jade since the Neolithic period; quarries for nephrite, the formal name for one type of jade, have been found in modern-day southern Mongolia that date to ca. 4000 BCE. The stone was prized for its hardness, its beautiful coloration, and its durability. By the third millennium BCE, we know that jade had also come to be associated with immortality. Despite its hardness - a testament to the craftsmanship of early Chinese artisans - jade was used to make everything from everyday household objects and decoration to the ceremonial suits in which emperors were buried ? with the belief that jade would preserve the body and the soul for eternity.

Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection; ex-Arts du Monde, New York, New York, USA, imported into the US prior to 2000

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#174315

Petite nick to fin and abrasion to one side of snout. Otherwise, intact, excellent, and wearable as a pendant.