China, 5^th-3^rd century BC. The flat stone carved as a sinuous dragon, the long body forming a slender S-curve and detailed on both sides with neatly arranged scrollwork, the head with a slit mouth, upwards-curled snout, and a pointed laid-back ear, the furcated tail curling inwards above the body, the lower body issuing a pair of legs further carved with parallel grooves. The translucent stone of a celadon tone with creamy-white patches and black specks.

Provenance: From the private collection of Professor Filippo Salviati, Rome, Italy. A professor of archeology and art history at the Italian Institute of Oriental Studies at the Sapienza University of Rome, Prof. Salviati has researched and published extensively on Chinese archaic art.
Condition: Excellent condition, commensurate with age. Some wear, encrustations, minor signs of erosion, few minuscule nicks, remnants of pigment. The stone with natural fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks over time. Fine, naturally grown patina overall.

Weight: 117.0 g
Dimensions: Length 23 cm

With a padded silk storage box. (2)

Literature comparison:
Compare a related jade dragon of similar form but lacking the appendix at the bottom, from the A. W. Bahr Collection, illustrated by Alfred Salmony, Carved Jade of Ancient China, 1938, pl. XLI, no. 5. Compare two jade dragon plaques from the collection of Dr. T. K. Cheng, Cambridge, illustrated by S. H. Hansford, Chinese Carved Jades, London, 1968, pl. 46.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 10 September 2019, lot 39
Price: USD 18,750 or approx. EUR 21,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A black and beige jade ‘dragon’ pendant, Eastern Zhou dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related sinuous form, slit mouth, and scrollwork. Note the smaller size (11.2 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 18 March 2009, lot 302
Price: USD 30,000 or approx. EUR 40,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An altered greyish-green jade dragon pendant, late Eastern Zhou dynasty, 5^th-4^th century BC
Expert remark: Compare the closely related head with similar slit mouth and pointed laid-back ear and legs with similar parallel grooves. Note the smaller size (10.2 cm).



東周大型青玉龍形佩
中國，公元前五至三世紀。龍回首，長鼻與弓起的龍身連接，尖尾上揚翻捲，龍體呈S形，生翼顯爪。雙面單陰線刻卷雲紋。腿上還刻有平行的凹槽。青色的半透明玉石，帶有乳白色和黑色的斑紋。

來源：義大利羅馬Filippo Salviati教授私人收藏，Filippo Salviati教授是羅馬大學東亞研究所考古系及藝術史系教授。他對中國古代文物以及玉器進行了廣泛研究並出版了很多專著。
品相：狀況極佳，與年齡相稱。一些磨損、結殼、輕微的侵蝕跡象、微小刻痕、色素殘留。有天然裂縫的玉料，隨著時間的推移，其中一些可能已經發展成細小的裂縫。整體上包漿細膩。

重量：117.0 克
尺寸：長23 厘米

相配的有襯絲盒子。

文獻比較：
比較一件相近的玉雕龍形佩，但底部沒有附加物，見A. W. Bahr收藏，Alfred Salmony，《Carved Jade of Ancient China》，1938年，編號 XLI，圖5。比較兩件玉雕龍形佩， 劍橋Dr. T. K. Cheng收藏，見S. H. Hansford，《Chinese Carved Jades》，倫敦，1968年，編號46。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2019年9月10日，lot 39
價格：USD 18,750（相當於今日EUR 21,500）
描述：東周玉雕龍紋珮
專家評論：比較非常相近蜿蜒外型、長鼻和卷雲紋。請注意尺寸較小(11.2 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2009年3月18日，lot 302
價格：USD 30,000（相當於今日EUR 40,500）
描述：公元前五至四世紀東周晚期 龍形玉佩
專家評論：比較非常相近頭型、長鼻、收耳，以及腿上的平行的凹槽。請注意尺寸較小(10.2 厘米)。