|
Height: 5
cm, width: 4.8 cm, thickness: 0.4
cm
|
Brown splotches cover this pendant carved from
semi-translucent light green jade. This unusual
drum-shaped pendant is marked by openwork in the
upper, lower, and center areas. The front is covered
with fine decoration, while the reverse is plain. Two
drilled holes allowed it to be suspended. A similar
jade was excavated from a Ch’in tomb in Shensi.
According to research, the pattern here represents an
abstract design of two coiled dragons. The openwork
above and below represent the heads of the two
dragons, while the openwork in the center represents
the claws. The surface is composed of geometric
designs with a single small dragon head in the upper
right corner of the piece (see diagram). This is a
feature of jade carving from the State of Ch’in during
the Spring and Autumn Period.