Rare Antique Chinese Carved Jade Bi With Kylin's Or Chilong Dragons. Finely Carved With Sharp Detail And A Soft Polish And Patina. Deep Chocolate Brown Color. Ming Dynasty Or Earlier. Approximately 7 1/8 Wide. Aperture Approximately 1 1/4".
For A Similar But Smaller Example:
Christie's - England - February 14, 2019 -The Art of China: Including Private English Collections - SALE 17260 - Lot #104
PROPERTY FROM THE MRS ELIZABETH ATTRIDGE (1934-2018) COLLECTION
A FINELY CARVED TWO-COLOUR 'CHILONG' PENDANT
MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)
Estimate: GBP 2,000 - GBP 3,000
(USD 2,520 - USD 3,780)
Price Realized GBP 3,000
The oval pendant is skilfully carved to one side with a pair of coiled archaistic chilong dragons facing each other, with the reverse detailed with scrolling patterns surrounded by a beaded edge. The stone has a soft creamy beige tone, contrasted against areas of brownish-honey tones which are utilised to highlight the bodies of the dragons.
2 in. (5.1 cm.) long
Please note this lot is the property of a private individual.
Provenance
Christie's South Kensington, 17 July 1997, lot 75
The Mrs Elizabeth Attridge (1934-2018) Collection
See Images At The End Of This Listing
For A Similar Example:
The British Museum:
Registration number
1945,1017.107
Description
Bi. Two dragons, grain pattern, snakes interlaced and spirals. Made of carved jade (brown.yellow).
Production date
17thC-18thC (circa)
Materials
jade
Technique
carved
Dimensions
Diameter: 11.80 centimetres
Curator's comments
Jones 1990
Qing dynasty jade disc decorated with dragons in relief (bi)
Early discs buried in Neolithic tombs with cong were undecorated. Later they were often used in pendant sets indicating rank. Known also in texts as precious gifts between ancient noble or official families, such bi must have seemed attractive to collectors not just for their appearance but also for their associations. The present bi is loosely based upon jades of the Han period (206 BC-AD 220). However, the dragons lying on the surface are bolder and more clumsy than their Han counterparts, which were either shown in silhouette around the circumference of the discs, or worked in and out of the flat surfaces. The dark colour of the jade was probably achieved artificially by dipping the piece in a solution of carbon.
For A Similar Style Example:
Sotheby's London - Important Chinese Art - Property from the Ezekiel Collection - November 3, 2021; Lot #39;
DESCRIPTION
A rare large white jade 'dragon and phoenix' disc, bi Qing dynasty, 18th century | 清十八世紀 白玉仿古螭龍鳳紋璧
Property from the Ezekiel Collection
A rare large white jade 'dragon and phoenix' disc, bi
Qing dynasty, 18th century
清十八世紀 白玉仿古螭龍鳳紋璧
the large disc finely carved and pierced in high relief with a dragon crawling from the underside carved with rows of bosses through the central aperture to the top surface encircled by three chilong and a phoenix, the stone a very pale celadon-white tone
Diameter 13.8 cm, 5⅜ in.
PROVENANCE
Property of Mrs Younger.
Sotheby's London, 9th June 1959, lot 174.
Collection of Victor Ezekiel (1905-1976).
Younger女士收藏
倫敦蘇富比1959年6月9日,編號174
Victor Ezekiel(1905-1976年)收藏
EXHIBITED
Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages, Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1975, cat. no. 390.
Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages》,東方陶瓷學會,倫敦,1975年,編號390
Estimate:
15,000 - 20,000 GBP
Lot sold: 252,000GBP - 333,509.40USD