|
Height: 11
cm, width: 3.7 cm, thickness: 0.7
cm
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Carved from green jade, many of the engraved lines here
still retain traces of cinnabar. Carved in profile are parts
of human and dragon forms. The prominent features of the
human heads above, facing in opposite directions, are topped
by differing crowns. The torso only reveals the lower half
of the body as if sitting in a position with the legs tucked
in. The human forms blend with the three coiled dragon
motifs found on this piece. The human faces appear similar
but are differentiated by the crowns. Two circular holes
were drilled from one side through the neck of the upper
dragon, indicating this once was suspended as a
pendant.
This object
appears similar to a figurine excavated from Chang-chia-p'o,
only longer and larger. The decoration is also more
vigorous. The bodies of the humans and dragons are decorated
with pairs of engraved lines. The high, spiraling crown is
close to one found on an early Western Chou jade figurine
excavated in Kansu (west-central China). Thus, this work
represents an early style in the middle of the Western
Chou.