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Details
- Other Title
- Rectangular bead ornamented with dragon motif
- Place where the work was made
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China
- Period
- Han dynasty 206 BCE - 220 CE → China
- Media category
- Jade
- Materials used
- jade
- Dimensions
- 6.6 x 2.1 x 1.1 cm
- Credit
- Gift of Mary and Henry Fung 2007
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 359.2007
- Copyright
- Share
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About
This rectangular ornament is carved on one side with a pair of vigorous feline-faced 'chi' dragons. The beasts writhe about, forming a graceful 'S'. The feline-faced creatures with tails that look like twisted bands are characteristic features of late-Han jade. The 'chi' dragon is defined as a 'young dragon of yellow colour' in the first Chinese dictionary, 'Shuo Wen Jie Zi' compiled in the 2nd century CE. This beast also appears on other jade ornaments such as small discs. Some scholars suggest a lizard, such as a gekko, may have been its inspiration.
Asian Art Department, AGNSW, January 2012
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Places
Where the work was made
China
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Exhibition history
Shown in 2 exhibitions
Dragon (2012), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 18 Jan 2012–06 May 2012
Conversations through the Asian collections, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 25 Oct 2014–13 Mar 2016