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Dragon Complex 7

'S' shaped dragon with decorative curls
 
  • Pale green translucent jade with minor calcification and wrinkle.
  • Decoration consists of 'fat' curls (high relief) in various shapes and combinations on the surface of the dragon.
  • Carving is bordered by a bevelled lip all around. 
  • Classic Warring States style.
  •  12.99 x 4.65 x .54 cm.
 
 Jessice Rawson in Chinese Jade, Neolithic to the Qing hypothesizes (very convincingly) that the high relief curls in jade  in the Warring States period were inspired by similar work in gold.
The idea was to catch and reflect light off of the angled surfaces. An entry in the online British Museum collection helps explain this idea.
 
 
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