China, a superb old Pig Dragon zhulóng jade ornament crafted from a pure pale celadon green colored jade with russet brown and cream top inclusions.

Quality: fine condition

We will include a custom display stand.

Dimensions: 2.25 inches tall and 1.25 inches width.

About Pig Dragons:

A pig dragon or zhulóng is a type of jade artifact first introduced from the Hongshan culture of neolithic China. Pig dragons are zoomorphic forms with a pig-like head and elongated limbless body coiled around to the head and described as “suggestively fetal”. Early pig dragons are thick and stubby, and later examples have more graceful, snakelike bodies. Pig bones have been found interred alongside humans at Hongshan burial sites, suggesting that the animal had some ritual significance. There is some speculation that the pig dragon is the first representation of the Chinese dragon. The character for “dragon” in the earliest Chinese writing has a similar coiled form, as do later jade dragon amulets from later periods.

Jades from this period are handmade, hand abraided and hand polished using tools of the time: bamboo, stone, water and stone dust. Notice the considerable calcification on this example- evidence of submersion and age. The resulting finished jade is quite elegant.

Provenance:
Our private collection and accompanied by our Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity.

We have been dealing in authentic Japanese, Chinese, European, and Asian Fine art, antiquities, garden ornaments, lanterns and water basins for 25 years. Our president personally travels to Japan, Europe and China each year to meet his network partners who assist him in finding best examples. He personally inspects each antique work of art to ensure its old age, authenticity and quality condition.