An archaic celadon and grey jade dragon-form pendant, Eastern Zhou dynasty, late Spring and Autumn period

Yangdetang Collection, acquired in Taipei, 1990.

Collection of Chang Wei-Hwa.

Christie's Hong Kong, 3rd December 2021, lot 2703 (part lot).

Dragon-shaped pendants of this type with 'S'-shaped bodies and scrolling limbs were included in the range of jade pendants sets from tombs dating from the 6th to 5th centuries BCE, becoming a key component in jade pendant sets from the 5th to 3rd centuries BCE, before suddenly vanishing during the Han dynasty, see Chu Xin, ‘Zhanguo S xing longpei de sikao [Thoughts on Warring States 'S'-shaped dragon jade ornaments]’, Zhongguo lishi wenwu / Journal of National Museum of China, Beijing, 2012, issue 6, pp. 87-99.

See a number of excavated examples discussed by Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1996, p. 261. Although a large number of pendants in this style were produced, the decoration covering the bodies of these dragons varied greatly, ranging from incised cloud scrolls, rush-mat or hexagonal patterns in relief, and raised spiralling or grain-type bosses.

The holes drilled at the top centre enabled the pendant to be hung in perfect balance at the bottom of an assembled set of other components including beads, huang and bi disc carvings. For a discussion of the pendant assemblage, see Jenny F. So, op.cit., pp. 110-111.