A WHITE JADE ARCHAISTIC 'CHILONG' DISC, HUAN QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

of archaistic huan form, the translucent white jade skilfully worked in high relief on one side with three chilong clambering along the central aperture, their serpentine bodies terminating with long curling bifurcated tails, the reverse decorated along the inner edge in the cardinal positions with four mythical beast masks, each crested with an incised key-fret band, all bordered by undulating and interlinked scrolls

Purchased in Beijing in 1900, and thence by descent to an English collector, by repute.

In overall good condition, extremity nicks as can be expected.
"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."

Exquisitely carved with two dragons that move rhythmically around the smoothly finished flat disc, this piece is notable for the fine white jade which has been highlighted through the restrained decoration. Bi shapes with wide central apertures are known from as early as the Neolithic period, and in Chinese literature the term bi is mentioned in the Zhou li (Rites of Zhou) of the 2nd century B.C. where it symbolises Heaven.

Jade discs of this type, carved with chilong in high relief or in the round, were produced from as early as the Han dynasty and continued to be manufactured throughout Chinese history; see one attributed to the Western Han dynasty, surmounted by one sinuous dragon, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the Museum’s Special Exhibition of Circular Jade, 1995, cat. no. 61; another from the Song dynasty, but the two creatures incised into the bi, also from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the Museum’s exhibition Jingtian gewu. Zhongguo lidai yuqi daodu, 2011, cat. no. 6-4-1; and another, covered overall with numerous crawling chilong, in the Tianjin Museum, Tianjin, included in Jade Wares Collected by Tianjin Museum, Beijing, 2012, pl. 190.

Compare also a bi disc of oval form, similarly carved with two dragons, attributed to the Ming dynasty, published in Brian Morgan, Naturalism and Archaism. Chinese Jades from the Kirknorton Collection, London, 1995, pl. 71.