Period:Shang dynasty Production date:15thC BC-10thC BC
Materials:jade, cinnabar,
Technique:carved
Subjects:dragon
Dimensions:Length: 6.40 centimetres Width: 6.20 centimetres
Description:
Dragon fitting of extensively calcified yellow jade with cinnabar and traces of earth encrustation.
IMG
![图片[1]-fitting BM-2022-3034.104-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Shang dynasty/Jades/479_.jpg)
Comments:This very substantial, indeed imposing, slice of jade was evidently an appendage to a bronze weapon or some other similar object. It is trapezoidal in form, with a short tang, pierced by a hole at the short end. Although part of the profile of the fitting displays the nose and brow of a dragon, the rest is cut straight and edged with double hooked flanges, some of which are missing. Both sides are carved in narrow ridges of relief to show a dragon with a large head, a slanting eye, an open jaw, a leaf-shaped ear, a single claw and a very much abbreviated body with a small hooked tail. The body and claw are also decorated with meander patterns. Jade blades within bronze fittings are more common than jade fittings for bronze blades. Indeed this piece may have been combined with another material, such as wood, rather than bronze, as it shows no traces of staining from bronze corrosion. Such fully worked and substantial ornaments are rare. More common are rectangular pieces, thinner in cross-section with thread relief designs, that have flanges with holes for attachment to something else. See Rawson 1995, p.217, cat.no.12.13. The highly stylized bottlehorn dragon with large head and square open jaws above a coiled body decorated with angular curl motifs, hooked tail and clawed feet. Extending from the mouth edge is a rectangular tab with a biconical perforation. The other three edges are carved with serrated flanges. Shang. Length 65mm.Bluett compares the pieces to one in the Archaic Chinese Jade from the Edward and Louise B. Sonnenschein Collection, Alfred Salomony, 1952, pl. XX11, no. 3
Materials:jade, cinnabar,
Technique:carved
Subjects:dragon
Dimensions:Length: 6.40 centimetres Width: 6.20 centimetres
Description:
Dragon fitting of extensively calcified yellow jade with cinnabar and traces of earth encrustation.
IMG
Comments:This very substantial, indeed imposing, slice of jade was evidently an appendage to a bronze weapon or some other similar object. It is trapezoidal in form, with a short tang, pierced by a hole at the short end. Although part of the profile of the fitting displays the nose and brow of a dragon, the rest is cut straight and edged with double hooked flanges, some of which are missing. Both sides are carved in narrow ridges of relief to show a dragon with a large head, a slanting eye, an open jaw, a leaf-shaped ear, a single claw and a very much abbreviated body with a small hooked tail. The body and claw are also decorated with meander patterns. Jade blades within bronze fittings are more common than jade fittings for bronze blades. Indeed this piece may have been combined with another material, such as wood, rather than bronze, as it shows no traces of staining from bronze corrosion. Such fully worked and substantial ornaments are rare. More common are rectangular pieces, thinner in cross-section with thread relief designs, that have flanges with holes for attachment to something else. See Rawson 1995, p.217, cat.no.12.13. The highly stylized bottlehorn dragon with large head and square open jaws above a coiled body decorated with angular curl motifs, hooked tail and clawed feet. Extending from the mouth edge is a rectangular tab with a biconical perforation. The other three edges are carved with serrated flanges. Shang. Length 65mm.Bluett compares the pieces to one in the Archaic Chinese Jade from the Edward and Louise B. Sonnenschein Collection, Alfred Salomony, 1952, pl. XX11, no. 3
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