Neolithic Hongshan Culture Calcified “Chicken-Bone-White” Jade Pig-Dragon, Zhulong (7500–2900 BCE)

拍品描述

Dimensions: H. 8.2 cm (approx. 3.23 in / 0.27 ft); W. 6 cm (approx. 2.36 in / 0.20 ft); Weight: 141 g (approx. 4.97 oz); Neolithic Period, Hongshan Culture, 7500–2900 BCE，Condition & Provenance: Preserved in overall intact condition. The jade displays a characteristic calcified chicken-bone-white appearance, with fine surface fissures, pale brown soil accretions, localized tonal variation, and weathered surface characteristics. The principal silhouette, large central aperture, carved facial details, and smaller suspension perforation remain clearly defined. Private Collection, New York, USA.Description: This jade carving takes the classic Hongshan pig-dragon form, with the material displaying an overall grayish-white, chicken-bone-white appearance. Fine fissures and naturally distributed surface markings extend across the body, accompanied by areas of pale brown soil accretion and subtle tonal variation that give the surface a richly aged character. The body is powerfully curled into a compact C-shaped profile and pierced through the center with a large circular aperture. An opening at the lower neck separates the projecting head from the rounded body and gives the silhouette its characteristic coiled form. The upper section is carved as a stylized pig-dragon head with prominent upright ears, a forward-projecting snout, and large circular eyes defined by incised outlines. Several parallel grooves articulate the muzzle and neck, using a restrained vocabulary of carved lines to establish the creature’s distinctive features. A smaller circular perforation positioned behind the head near the outer edge serves as a suspension hole. The walls of the large central opening are smoothly finished, while the outer contours are rounded and carefully polished, producing the full, softly modeled surfaces associated with this sculptural type. The carving is compact and substantial, with the head, neck, and coiled body integrated into a unified profile. Its matte gray-white surface is punctuated by areas of brown coloration, weathering, and fine textural variation, contributing to the visual character traditionally associated with archaic jade. The pig-dragon, or zhulong, is among the most recognizable animal forms associated with Hongshan jade traditions, combining porcine facial characteristics with a tightly curled, dragon-like body in a highly abstract sculptural conception. With its substantial proportions, clearly articulated head, large central aperture, and secondary suspension perforation, this example presents the defining visual vocabulary of the Hongshan pig-dragon tradition.

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