East Asia, Late Qing to Republic Period, ca. 1912 to 1949 CE. An exquisite white jade pendant, of a cylindrical, bell-shaped form, finely carved toe present an enormous feline-like creature with one forepaw beneath its head, and one hind paw and tail curving up above the head in a dramatically contortionist manner framed by an upper and lower meander (somewhat similar to a stylized Greek key motif). A green cord is threaded through a singular perforation at the top of the form, and a lovely spherical jade bead adorns the upper end of the cord. Size: 2.625" L x 0.55" W (6.7 cm x 1.4 cm)
This piece is part of an incredibly long Chinese tradition of creating intricate carvings from jade. Chinese art has incorporated jade since the Neolithic period; quarries for nephrite, the formal name for 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 (with a milky white being the most desired), and its durability. Jade became associated with immortality, used to make everything from everyday household objects and decoration to the ceremonial suits in which Han dynasty emperors were buried – with the belief that jade would preserve the body and the soul for eternity. By the Qing Dynasty, Chinese jade had become collectible in the Western world, where many people were fascinated by traditional Chinese culture and decorative arts.
Provenance: private collection of the late Karming Wong; approximate date of acquisition: late 1970 to early 1980
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 and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#156139
Condition
Very light encrustations on some areas, otherwise intact and very good. Nice smooth surfaces throughout. Does not produce a sound; so it is likely a votive rendering of a bell.