Until 1st May, 2026
Buy it now
A RARE AND LARGE TURQUOISE MATRIX ‘PIG DRAGON’ PENDANT, ZHULONG, LATE NEOLITHIC PERIOD, HONGSHAN CULTURE
Lot 126 - HS1225
China, c. 4700-3000 BC. Of generous proportions, the gently rounded body further accentuated by a superbly rendered wrinkled snout, the neck drilled for suspension.
Provenance: The collection of The Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum, acquired by Dr. Zelnik in Nanjing circa 1977-1978. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. Dr. István Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe.
Condition: Fair condition, commensurate with age. Extensive weathering, small losses, natural imperfections including fissures—some of which have developed into age cracks, weathering and erosion, and encrustations. Good patina overall
Weight: 656.6 g
Dimensions: Height 20 cm
Notable for its large size, this carving depicts a zhulong, or pig-dragon, a modern term that describes the animal’s upturned snout, prominent bulging eyes, and coiled body. Considered the prototype for depictions of mythological dragons in later Chinese art, zhulong are among the most iconic creations of the enigmatic Hongshan culture and evidence the existence of a complex system of belief in supernatural forces.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Zacke, Vienna, 11 March 2022, lot 433
Price: EUR 35,392 or approx. EUR 41,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare and massive limestone ‘pig-dragon’ carving, Zhulong, Hongshan culture
Expert remark: Compare the closely related wrinkled snout and size (20 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 10 July 2020, lot 102
Price: HKD 5,575,000 or approx. EUR 667,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare yellow jade zhulong (‘pig dragon’), Neolithic period, Hongshan culture
Expert remark: Compare the related material and note the smaller size (7.2 cm).
Please note that additional images and detailed information are available only upon request for lots with a starting price of 500 Euros or above in our Discovery Auctions.
If there are any existing additional images of this item, you can find them on this tab. You must be logged into your personal Zacke account to see the images. Click on an image to zoom or save.
Log in or sign up to view the natural light images.
Click here to request more information on this lot.
How to Buy Online
You must log in or create an online account in order to buy items from the shop.
Click the red 'Buy it Now' button to buy this item. You will then be able to download your invoice and receive instructions about how to pay. Prices include Buyer's Premium.
If you would like to buy multiple items at the same time, add the items you want to your cart. You will then be able to check out with multiple items simultaneously.
Items in your cart are not reserved. Please complete the purchase process promptly to secure the items.
How to Buy Offline
If you would like to buy one of these items outside of the online shop, please contact us at office@zacke.at or +43 (1) 532 04 52.
Our Terms and Conditions
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our auctions fair and transparent, we encourage you to read our terms and conditions thoroughly. We urge you to read through §34-50) to ensure you understand them. These terms are specifically designed to protect all serious and committed buyers from bidding against non-payers who attempt to inflate prices without the intent of paying their auction bills.
For further reading about non-payers at auction, go here: https://www.zacke.at/aboutnonpayers/.
The main points include the following:
- Bidders must complete their due diligence and clarify all questions about the objects before the auction. After the auction, Zacke will not answer questions from bidders unless the purchase price has been paid in full. Of course, this does not apply to questions concerning shipping, insurance, customs, etc.
- A sale cancellation of any kind after the fall of the hammer is not possible. The only exception to this fundamental rule is our guarantee of authenticity [the Guarantee].
- A Guarantee Claim, however, can only be raised after the purchase price has been paid in full by the buyer and within 45 days after the auction day.
If you have any questions about our policies, please get in touch with us at office@zacke.at.
By placing a bid, you agree to our Terms of Auction and Terms and Conditions.
