WESTERN HAN DYNASTY (206 BC-AD 8)

Compare two Western Han white jade sword guards similarly carved with a chilong in high relief on one side and a taotie mask in low relief on the reverse, from Xiashan, Yongcheng, Henan province and now in the Henan Provincial Museum, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Jades Unearthed in China, vol. 5, Henan, Beijing, 2005, nos. 219 and 220. The current sword guard is a particularly superb example, featuring high-quality jade material and exceptionally fine carving.