Neolithic Hongshan Culture Chicken-Bone White Jade C-Shaped Pig-Dragon, circa 4700–2900 BCE

拍品描述

Dimensions: Overall Height 8.5 cm (3.35 in / 0.28 ft); Maximum Width 7 cm (2.76 in / 0.23 ft); Neolithic Period, Hongshan Culture，Weight: 244 g (approx. 8.61 oz)，Condition & Provenance: The jade is preserved intact overall, with no apparent chips, major cracks, losses, or restoration. The material displays extensive calcification, resulting in a predominantly chicken-bone-white surface enriched by mottled ochre, tan, and gray-brown areas and a fine network of weathering fissures. The compact C-shaped body retains a strongly modeled head with broad upright ears, rounded projecting eyes, a substantial snout, and shallow incised details. A characteristic opening separates the head from the coiled lower body. A lateral suspension aperture near the neck preserves visible rotational and abrasive working traces along the interior. The entire carving is broadly rounded and smoothly finished, giving the piece a substantial, tactile quality. The tiered wooden base and metal display mount are later exhibition fittings and are separate from the jade itself. Provenance: Established Private Collection, New York, USA. Acquired from an Oriental art auction house in London in 1995 and subsequently retained within the same family collection for more than thirty years; accompanied by purchase and collection documentation.，Description: Carved from a substantial single piece of jade, this C-shaped pig-dragon presents one of the most recognizable sculptural forms associated with Hongshan jade traditions.Measuring 8.5 cm in height and weighing an impressive 244 grams, the carving possesses considerable density and visual presence, with its thick, rounded body tightly coiled into an almost circular silhouette. The composition is organized around the characteristic separation between the head and lower body. This narrow opening interrupts the otherwise continuous curve and gives the object its distinctive C-shaped profile. The head is particularly powerful in conception, with broad upright ears rising above prominent rounded eyes and a short, projecting snout. Shallow incised lines articulate the facial features and introduce a restrained graphic element against the otherwise smoothly modeled surfaces. The body is treated as a continuous sculptural mass. Broad convex planes flow from the head through the neck and into the heavy coiled torso, with few abrupt transitions or sharp edges. This emphasis on volume, silhouette, and controlled curvature gives the piece the monumental quality often admired in prehistoric Chinese jade carving despite its portable scale. A suspension aperture positioned near the neck passes through the body and retains visible traces of drilling and abrasive finishing. The placement of this perforation indicates that the object was conceived for suspension, whether as a personal ornament or within a ceremonial context. The surface contributes strongly to the object's visual character. Creamy chicken-bone-white tones dominate, interrupted by irregular ochre, tan, gray, and darker passages. Fine interconnected fissures extend across the carving, while darker deposits collect around the eyes, mouth, suspension opening, and other recessed areas, emphasizing the sculptural details and creating a richly layered appearance. Pig-dragons are among the most celebrated jade forms associated with Hongshan material culture and have become central to discussions of prehistoric ritual practice, status, personal adornment, animal symbolism, and the early development of dragon imagery in China. Their characteristic combination of a compact coiled body, prominent animal head, and suspension aperture creates an immediately recognizable visual vocabulary. The present example is particularly striking for its substantial 244-gram weight, balanced proportions, deeply rounded modeling, expressive head, and strongly contrasting surface coloration. Mounted on its fitted display stand, the carving has an imposing sculptural presence and can be appreciated from multiple viewpoints. Its combination of compact monumentality, zoomorphic abstraction, carefully controlled curves, and richly altered surface makes it a compelling object for the study and collection of prehistoric Chinese jade traditions.

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