China, 1279-1644 or earlier. Note that Una Pope-Hennessy dated the present lot to “T’ang dynasty or later” in her 1923 reference book “Early Chinese Jades”. Boldly carved as a leaf with an oval perforation in the center, a large chilong with bifurcated tail, funnel-shaped ears, and large bulging eyes clambering on the leaf and entwined through the aperture, looking toward its young perched on the edge of the leaf. The translucent stone is of a gray tone with patches of pale brown color as well as black veins and specks.

Provenance: From the collection of Professor J. Norman Collie. Sotheby's London, 9 April 1943, lot 303. Henry Tozer, acquired from the above. Sotheby's London, 26 July 1960, lot 118. Victor Ezekiel, acquired from the above. Professor John Norman Collie (1859-1942) was an English scientist, mountaineer, and explorer. Henry Tozer was an avid enthusiast of Asian Art. His collection included Tang pottery, early Chinese bronzes, later porcelains, jade carvings, and Japanese prints. He was a regular client of Bluett’s between 1942-1958. Marcus Ezekiel (1854-1927) and his son Victor (1905-1976) were two leading figures in the formative years of Chinese art collecting in London in the first part of the 20th century, and important early members of the Oriental Ceramic Society.
Published: Una Pope-Hennessy, Early Chinese Jades, London, 1923, pl. XXXIII, fig. 2, dated to “T’ang dynasty or later”.
Condition: Very good condition with only minor old wear, few tiny chips (the largest 3 mm long) to the edge of the leaf. With a good, unctuous feel overall and a nice, naturally grown luster.

Weight: 50.1 g
Dimensions: Length 7.7 cm

Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related archaistic jade carved as a thumbring (she), also with a central aperture and two clambering chilong, dated Ming-Qing dynasty, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in Chinese Art on 28-29 November 2019, lot 816, sold for HKD 750,000 (part lot, together with an archaistic huan disk). For later examples, see Bonhams, 5 November 2020, lot 160, sold for GBP 16,312 and Christies, 26 November 2014, lot 3158, sold for HKD 275,000.


元明時期玉雕螭龍掛件
中國，1279-1644 年或更早。請注意，Una Pope-Hennessy在她1923年出版的 “Early Chinese Jades” 一書中認爲此掛件應爲唐代或更早。玉料被雕刻成一片葉子，中間有一個橢圓形的穿孔，一隻大螭龍，尾巴分叉，耳朵呈漏斗狀，大大的眼睛在葉子上攀爬並纏繞穿過穿孔，望向正趴在葉子邊緣的幼崽 。半透明的石料呈灰色調，帶有淺棕色的斑塊以及黑色的紋理和斑點。

來源： Professor J. Norman Collie收藏。倫敦蘇富比1943年4月 9日lot 303；Henry Tozer購於上述拍賣；倫敦蘇富比1960年7月26日lot 118；Victor Ezekiel購於上述拍賣。Professor John Norman Collie (1859-1942) 曾是一位英國科學家、登山冒險家。Henry Tozer曾是一位亞洲藝術的愛好者。他的收藏中有唐代陶器、早期中國青銅器、晚期瓷器、玉雕和日本版畫。1942-1958 年間，他曾是 Bluett 藝廊的常客。Marcus Ezekiel (1854-1927) 和他的兒子 Victor Ezekiel (1905-1976) 曾是20世紀上半葉倫敦的中國藝術收藏形成及穩定時期的兩位領軍人物，同時也是東方陶瓷學會早期重要成員。
出版：Una Pope-Hennessy, Early Chinese Jades（中國早期玉器），倫敦，1923年，pl. XXXIII, 圖2。
品相：狀況非常好，只有輕微的磨損，葉片邊緣有一些微小的磕損（最大的長3 毫米）。 包漿整體感覺良好、光滑細膩。

重量：50.1 克
尺寸：長7.7厘米

拍賣結果比較：比較一件相近的明代玉雕螭龍扳指，見香港蘇富比Chinese Art 2019年11月28-29日 lot 816, 售價HKD 750,000 (和一件玉環一起)；另見邦翰思2020年11月5日 lot 160, 售價GBP 16,312 ；以及佳士得2014年11月 26日lot 3158, 售價HKD 275,000。