Qing Dynasty Stone Carved Vertical Ornament With Dragon & Auspicious Cloud Relief

拍品描述

Dimensions：Overall height 46 cm (18.1 in), width 12.5 cm (4.9 in), weight 7.1 kg, 17th‑19th Century CECondition & Provenance：The stone sculpture is structurally solid with no major splits or missing sections; carved dragon patterns remain intact. Unpolished stone surface bears natural weathered patina, while carved dragon relief areas have a glossy dark patina built over centuries of handling. Only minor light erosion along edges, no modern restoration work. Classified as miscellaneous stone artifact, this piece was salvaged from ancient Chinese architectural ruins, acquired in 2024 by a private Asian antique collector based in Manhattan, New York State, USA. Complete lineage paperwork and professional stone carving appraisal certification are provided.Description：This vertical Qing stone ornament is hewn from hard natural sedimentary rock, shaped as an elongated pillar. One side retains rough unworked raw stone surface, while the opposite face is fully decorated with deep relief carving of a celestial dragon weaving through swirling clouds. The dragon coils down from the top of the stone slab, featuring fierce bulging eyes, flowing mane, sharply defined scales, powerful clawed limbs and detailed tail fins, all rendered with bold, forceful carving lines. Layered spiral cloud motifs wrap around the dragon’s body, the curved cloud scrolls fluid and graceful, creating a powerful, imposing imperial auspicious motif typical of traditional Chinese temple architecture. The craftsman fully leveraged the stone’s natural vertical form to frame the composition, generating striking contrast between blank rough stone and elaborate deep relief carving, showing exceptional artistic ingenuity. Centuries of natural weathering left mottled earthy yellow mineral encrustation on uncarved surfaces, while constant human handling gave the carved relief a thick, glossy dark patina with rich layered texture and authentic antique character. Dragon and cloud iconography symbolizes soaring fortune, prosperity and auspicious ascent. Originally manufactured as decorative architectural components for ancestral halls and Buddhist shrines, this piece now serves as a monumental statement display for high‑end study or living spaces. Complete intact architectural stone carvings of this scale are quite scarce on the global antique market. It delivers meaningful archaeological insight into ancient Chinese building craft while offering outstanding decorative and collectible appeal, highly sought after by North American collectors of antique Oriental stone sculpture.

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