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A MAGNIFICENT WHITE AND RUSSET JADE ‘DRAGON’ SCABBARD CHAPE, WESTERN HAN DYNASTY China, 206 BC-8 AD. Of trapezoidal form and lenticular section, finely carved with two youthful dragons (chilong) in high relief, partially openwork, writhing across the surface, one of them extending its large, bifurcated tail onto the reverse, which is adorned with a symmetrical scrollwork design. The smoothly polished, translucent stone of an attractive greenish-white tone with prominent russet patches and cloudy inclusions. Provenance: From The Sam and Myrna Myers Collection, Paris, France. Acquired between circa 1965-2012. Condition: Excellent condition, commensurate with age, with surface wear and inherent natural imperfections. Light traces of weathering. Minor nibbling and a very small chip along one edge of the underside. Weight: 107.4 g Dimensions: Length 7.5 cm Placed at the end of the scabbard as decoration, scabbard chapes became popular in the Eastern Zhou dynasty. During the Warring States period and the Han dynasty, scabbard chapes gained significance as symbols of the elite class. In his book ‘Radiant Stones’ Filippo Salviati writes: by the late Eastern Zhou period, significant stylistic transformation occurred in the decoration of sword fittings. The motifs were often three-dimensional. The themes are almost invariably dragons with strong marked feline features, their sinuous bodies moving over the surface of the object, sometimes emerging from it, as if it were a liquid instead of a solid jade. This style breaks the rigidity and geometric formality which had limited the décor to the space defined by the outline of the fitting. Expert’s note: Particular attention should be given to the mastery with which the craftsman who produced this jade artifact of predominantly whitish tone skillfully exploited the natural russet discoloration resulting from the physicochemical processes the stone underwent prior to carving. Originally exposed to iron oxides that penetrated its crystalline structure, these chromatic variations were deliberately employed to accentuate the openwork-carved dragons adorning one face of this scabbard chape, elevating it to an exceptional example of the high level of craftsmanship achieved by jade workers during the Han dynasty. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related pale green jade ‘dragon’ scabbard chape, Han dynasty, 2nd BC-2nd AD, 5.9 cm long, in the British Museum, registration number 2022,3034.174. Compare a related jade scabbard chape, Western Han dynasty, 3rd-1st century BC, 4.9 cm, in the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, accession number S1987.611. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 5 April 2016, lot 15 Price: HKD 1,600,000 or approx. EUR 208,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A pale green jade ‘chi’ dragon sword chape (bi), Western Han Dynasty Expert remark: Compare the related form, manner of carving in openwork with similar ‘dragon’ and scrolling decoration, and color of the stone. Note the similar size (8 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 31 March 2017, lot 2710 Price: HKD 375,000 or approx. EUR 47,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A white jade 'dragon' scabbard chape, Han dynasty, 206 BC-220 AD Expert remark: Compare the related form, manner of carving in openwork with similar ‘dragon’ and scrolling decoration, and color of the stone. Note the slightly smaller size (6 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Zacke Vienna, 11 September 2025, lot 242 Price: EUR 9,100 Description: A celadon and russet jade ‘dragon’ scabbard chape, Western Han dynasty Expert remark: Compare the related form, manner of carving in openwork with similar ‘dragon’ and scrolling decoration, and color of the stone. Note the smaller size (5.5 cm) and the provenance, as this lot was formerly part of the Sam and Myrna Myers Collection.

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Jade