Lot Essay
The author notes that "the carving is superb and has all the characteristics of the finest carving of the late seventeenth-early eighteenth centuries"
Details
A FINE AND RARE SUZHOU WHITE JADE 'DRAGON' PENDANT
KANGXI, SIGNED ZHITING
The oval stone carved to the convex side with a pair of confronted chilong, one spitting a stream of water, the reverse with a seven-character inscription which may be translated as 'the dragon submerges under the blue sea (waiting to) hear the spring thunder', framed by cresting waves and scrolling clouds, the white stone with russet skin emphasising the dragon and water, conically pierced at one end--2½in. (6cm.) long
KANGXI, SIGNED ZHITING
The oval stone carved to the convex side with a pair of confronted chilong, one spitting a stream of water, the reverse with a seven-character inscription which may be translated as 'the dragon submerges under the blue sea (waiting to) hear the spring thunder', framed by cresting waves and scrolling clouds, the white stone with russet skin emphasising the dragon and water, conically pierced at one end--2½in. (6cm.) long
Literature
James Watt, op. cit., no. 217