A YELLOWISH-WHITE JADE RETICULATED 'DRAGON' DISC, HUAN QING DYNASTY, 17TH – 18TH CENTURY

of archaistic huan form, well worked and reticulated as a coiled dragon biting its own tail, the serpentine body of the mythical beast rendered with stylised scrolls and accentuated with a crenulated spine along the edge of the upper body, the stone of an even pale yellowish-white colour with light russet patches, skilfully worked to particularly highlight the dragon's head and spine

Good overall condition. Possibly there has been light polishing to the rim.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Plaques of this type, carved in the form of a coiled dragon, follow prototypes made in the Shang dynasty, such as one in the British Museum, London, illustrated in Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, pl. 12:1.

A coiled dragon disc, in the British Museum, London, is illustrated ibid., pl. 91a; one was sold in our Los Angeles rooms, 17th June 1977, lot 1578; another of slightly larger size, was sold in our London rooms, 1st July 1974, lot 154; and a third was sold in our New York rooms, 19th March 2007, lot 640. See also a disc in the form of two coiling dragons in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum, Jade, vol. 9, Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, pl. 225.