China, 1300-1000 BC. Of flattened form, carved in the form of a recumbent dragon with open mouth and long tail. The translucent stone of a green tone with creamy white and russet speckles.

Provenance: From the collection of Dr. Wou Kiuan. Wou Lien-Pai Museum, coll. no. E.3.21A-H. Dr. Wou Kiuan (1910-1997) was a Chinese diplomat and noted scholar of Chinese art. His father, Wou Lien-Pai (1873-1944), was one the leading political figures of early 20th century China, remembered for his role as speaker and leader of parliament during the turbulent years of the Republican era. Dr. Wou himself embarked on an illustrious career in diplomacy until his retirement in 1952, when he settled in London and devoted the rest of his life to the study of Chinese art. It was no doubt fortuitous that Dr. Wou’s years of collecting coincided with an abundant availability of exceptional Chinese art on the London market. From the mid-1950s to the late 1960s he was able to form a collection of well over 1,000 works that together represented virtually every category of Chinese art. At the heart of Dr. Wou’s drive to collect was a burning desire to preserve the relics of China’s rich historical past scattered across Europe, and to promote Chinese art and culture. It is unclear when Dr. Wou conceived of the idea to create a place to house his collection, but in 1968 he opened the doors to the Wou Lien-Pai Museum, named in honor of his father. Over the years the Museum became a ‘must see’ destination for collectors, academics, and visiting dignitaries, and Dr. Wou would delight in leading his visitors through the galleries, recounting stories of China’s glorious history.
Condition: Very good condition with expected old wear and weathering, little nibbling, few nicks, and light scratches.

Weight: 10.3 g
Dimensions: Length 8.4 cm

Small pendants in the form of animals form a major category of jades in the Shang period and can be found in many of the major burials of high-ranking individuals.

Expert’s note: The carving is unfinished on both sides, with only a small slit defining the opening of the mouth. For a similarly unfinished jade pendant, see Sotheby’s London, 3 November 2021, lot 126.



商至西周青綠玉龍形佩
中國，公元前1300-1000 年。扁平龍形佩，龍張嘴，長尾巴，斜躺。綠色調的半透明玉料，白色和赤褐色斑點。

來源：吳權博士收藏；吳蓮伯美術館，館藏編號E.3.21A-H.。吳權(1910-1997) 博士曾是一位中國外交家以及知名中國藝術收藏家。他的父親吳蓮伯 (1873-1944)先生曾是二十世紀初中國重要政治人物，因在民國動蕩歲月中擔任國會議員及議長而聞名。1952 年，吳博士在外交領域走上了輝煌之路，直到他退休後定居倫敦，並將餘生奉獻給了對中國藝術的研究。毫無疑問，吳權博士多年的收藏，與大量中國藝術珍品現身倫敦藝術市場上時間點相呼應，這無疑是幸運的。從 1950 年代中期到 1960 年代後期，他收集了 1,000 多件藏品，涵蓋了中國藝術的每一個門類。吳博士之所以收藏，其原因主要是爲保護散落歐洲各地的中國文物與推廣中國藝術與文化。尚不清楚吳博士何時想到創建一個美術館來歸置他的收藏的，但在 1968 年，他打開了以他父親的名字命名的 吳蓮伯美術館的大門。多年來，美術館已成為收藏家、學者和來訪政要的必經之地，而吳博士總是很樂意給參觀者介紹美術館，講述中國光輝歷史的故事。
品相：狀況極好，有磨損和風化，小刻痕、輕微劃痕。

重量：10.3 克
尺寸：長 8.4 厘米

動物形狀的小佩飾是商代玉器的中一類，在許多達官貴人的墓葬中都能找到。

專家注釋：兩邊的雕刻都未完成，只有一個小縫隙表現了開口，一件同樣未完成的玉佩見倫敦蘇富比 2021年11月3日，lot 126。