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Lot Essay
Jade belt buckles of single-unit construction carved with naturalistic subjects are relatively rare, with the more common type being of two separate latching pieces. The arrangement of the hawk and recumbent beast in the current lot immediately suggests the symbolism of the eagle (ying) perched on a bear (xiong) forming the rebus yingxiong, or 'hero,' although it is unclear whether or not the artist wished to convey this meaning as the flames, fangs and long tail clearly identify the mythical nature of the animal.
Another jade belt buckle of single-unit construction carved with a front-facing dragon, and with a similarly carved chi dragon-head clasp, dated to the Qianlong period, is in the Qing Court Collection and illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 42 - Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, p. 13, no. 9.
Another jade belt buckle of single-unit construction carved with a front-facing dragon, and with a similarly carved chi dragon-head clasp, dated to the Qianlong period, is in the Qing Court Collection and illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 42 - Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, p. 13, no. 9.