China, 18^th-19^th century. Finely worked in high relief on one side with three chilong clambering sinuously, incised with a well-defined spine, mane, and horn, surrounded by sprays of lingzhi and foliage. The reverse in low relief with archaistic taotie masks interspersed with s-shapes. The translucent stone of a pale celadon tone with distinct russet veins, cloudy white inclusions, and few dark specks.

Provenance: New York trade.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor old wear, few microscopic nibbles to exposed areas. The stone with natural inclusions and fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks over time.

Weight: 181.4 g
Dimensions: Diameter 9.0 cm

The present disc was inspired by an archaic jade prototype. One of the characteristics of Chinese philosophic and artistic tradition is a great reverence for antiquity. Aesthetic sensibilities inherited from earlier periods are often reinterpreted in the works of art of subsequent dynasties. Scholars generally agree that the tradition of archaism originated in the Song dynasty (960-1279). From that time forward, the desire of the jade artist to emulate the past became a dominant artistic ideology.

The disc depicts three chilong holding sprigs of lingzhi fungus, a symbol of immortality. Chilong are a type of dragon with long feline-like bodies and bifurcated tails.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related archaistic jade bi with chilong, dated to the 19^th century, in the collection of the British Museum, museum number 1852,0708.1.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 9 October 2019, lot 99
Price: HKD 68,750 or approx. EUR 9,200 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A carved pale celadon and russet jade ‘chilong’ disc, bi, Qing dynasty, 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the related form, motif, color of the stone, and size (7.7 cm)

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 15 September 2018, lot 1427
Price: USD 17,500 or approx. EUR 20,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pale celadon jade 'chilong' disc, Qing dynasty, 18^th-19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related form, motif, color of the stone, and size (7 cm)

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 27 September 2021, lot 586
Price: USD 9,450 or approx. EUR 10,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A jade 'chilong' bi disc, Qing dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related form, motif, and color of the stone. Note the larger size (13.5 cm).



清代青玉留皮螭龍璧
中國，十八至十九世紀。質地溫潤，表面有黃色土沁，正面雕刻三隻爬行螭龍，螭首輪廓近似三角形，二個雲形耳向上豎，並往內鉤，兩眼圓，腦後有長鬣，曲頸，四肢粗壯呈爬行狀，背脊呈S形，尾部捲曲成捲雲紋分叉。背面雕刻饕餮紋與雲紋。淺青色半透明玉石，帶有明顯的赤褐色脈理、白色絮狀物和少量黑色斑點。

來源：紐約古玩交易。
品相：狀況極佳，有輕微的磨損，具有天然內沁和裂縫的石料，隨著時間的推移，其中一些可能已經發展成細小的裂縫。

重量：181.4 克
尺寸：直徑9.0 厘米

玉璧上的三只螭龍持靈芝，象徵長生不老。螭龍是傳説中長得像貓科動物且尾巴分叉的龍。

文獻比較：
比較一件相近的十九世紀螭龍玉璧，收藏於大英博物館，館藏編號1852,0708.1。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港佳士得，2019年10月9日，lot 99
價格：HKD 68,750（相當於今日EUR 9,200）
描述：清十八世紀青玉浮雕雙螭龍紋璧
專家評論：比較相近的外型、形制、玉石顏色和尺寸(7.7 厘米) 。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2018年9月15日，lot 1427
價格：USD 17,500（相當於今日EUR 20,500）
描述：清十八至十九世紀青白玉雕螭龍紋璧
專家評論：比較相近的外型、形制、玉石顏色和尺寸 (7 厘米) 。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2021年9月27日，lot 586
價格：USD 9,450（相當於今日EUR 10,500）
描述：清代玉雕螭龍紋璧
專家評論：比較相近的外型、形制、玉石顏色。請注意尺寸較大(13.5 厘米)。