Jade. China, Western Han dynasty, 2^nd century BC to 1^st century AD

Of lozenge shape, the front finely carved in high relief with a lively chilong and the reverse in low relief with an angular scroll design centered by a median ridge. The translucent stone of a celadon tone with white clouds and darker inclusions, further with natural fissures and a small chip to one corner.

Museum comparison: Compare two Western Han white jade sword guards carved with a chilong in high relief on one side and a taotie mask in low relief on the reverse, from Xiashan, Yongcheng, Henan province and now in the Henan Provincial Museum, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Jades Unearthed in China, vol. 5, Henan, Beijing, 2005, nos. 219 and 220. Compare a related jade sword fitting carved with a chilong in high relief, also dated to the Western Han period, in the collection of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, object number B60J799. Compare a related jade sword guard, also dated to the Western Han period, in the collection of the Freer Gallery of Art in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession number F1939.28.

Auction comparison: Compare a related jade sword guard similarly carved with a chilong in high relief, also dated to the Western Han dynasty, 5.7 cm long, at Christie’s New York in Important Chinese Art from the Junkunc Collection on 18 March 2021, lot 609 (sold for USD 37,500). Compare a related jade sword guard, similarly carved with an angular scroll design, dated Warring States period to early Western Han dynasty, 5.1 cm long, at Christie’s New York in Dongxi Studio - Important Chinese Jade and Hardstone Carvings from a Distinguished Private Collection on 17 March 2016, lot 921 (sold for USD 16,250).

WIDTH 6.6 cm

Provenance: From a private family collection in Milan, Italy. Private collection of Professor Filippo Salviati, acquired from the above through the Italian trade.