WESTERN HAN DYNASTY (206 BC-AD 8)

Details

A FINELY CARVED WHITE JADE SWORD GUARD
WESTERN HAN DYNASTY (206 BC-AD 8)
The front of the guard is finely carved in high relief and undercut with a lively chilong and the reverse with a taotie mask within a plain border. The semi-translucent stone is of even white color and has a satiny polish.
2 ¼ in. (5.7 cm.) long

Provenance

Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978) Collection.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Rufus Chen (陳嘉安) Head of Sale, AVP, Specialist

asianartny@christies.com +1 212 636 2180

Lot Essay

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.

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