Neolithic Hongshan Culture Chicken-Bone White Jade Pig-Dragon Pendant (circa 4700–2900 BCE)

拍品描述

Dimensions: Length 2.8 cm (1.10 in / 0.09 ft); Width 2 cm (0.79 in / 0.07 ft); Neolithic Period, Hongshan CultureWeight: 6 g (approx. 0.21 oz)Condition & Provenance: The pendant is preserved intact overall, with no apparent chips, losses, or restoration. The jade is extensively calcified, displaying a characteristic chicken-bone-white surface interspersed with mottled brown, gray-green, and celadon-toned areas. Fine interconnected weathering fissures extend naturally across the surface, while darker deposits remain concentrated within recessed areas and carved details. The compact C-shaped body retains a clearly defined head, projecting snout, rounded eye treatment, and raised crest, with a characteristic separation between the head and coiled body. A lateral suspension aperture passes through the body and shows visible rotational working traces along its interior. The surfaces are softly rounded and smoothly finished, with extensive age-related alteration preserved throughout. Provenance: Private Collection, Seattle, Washington, USA. Acquired from an Asian art gallery in San Francisco in 1998 and subsequently retained within the same family collection for more than twenty years; accompanied by collection documentation.Description: Small in scale yet remarkably sculptural in presence, this compact jade pendant is conceived in the classic coiled pig-dragon form associated with Hongshan jade traditions. Carved from a single piece of jade, the animal curls tightly upon itself to create a nearly circular silhouette, interrupted by the characteristic opening separating the head from the lower body. The head forms the visual focus of the composition. A broad forehead transitions into a short projecting snout, while simplified rounded eyes and a raised crest are modeled with restrained relief and incised detailing. The sculptor relied primarily on broad volumes, smooth contours, and carefully controlled curves rather than elaborate surface ornament, giving the pendant the direct and highly recognizable visual character associated with prehistoric jade carving. Despite measuring only 2.8 cm in length and weighing 6 grams, the piece has a surprisingly substantial appearance. Its compact proportions, thick body, and deeply rounded surfaces create a sense of mass that is particularly effective when viewed from the side. A drilled suspension hole allows the object to function naturally as a pendant, while the softly finished aperture and surrounding surfaces preserve visible traces of abrasive working. The surface is especially visually compelling. Predominantly pale chicken-bone white, it is interrupted by irregular passages of brown, gray-green, and muted celadon coloration. Fine fissures and darker deposits follow the contours of the carving and settle within recessed details, producing a complex, layered appearance across an otherwise minimalist form. Pig-dragon pendants are among the most celebrated forms associated with Hongshan jade traditions and have played an important role in discussions of prehistoric ritual practice, personal adornment, social status, and the early development of dragon imagery in China. The present miniature example is particularly appealing for the concentration of these characteristic features within an unusually compact format. Its coiled silhouette, strongly modeled head, lateral suspension aperture, softly polished surfaces, and richly altered coloration combine to create a distinctive small-scale object with considerable visual impact and strong appeal for collections devoted to prehistoric Chinese jade.

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