Description:

East Asia, Northeastern China, Neolithic period, Hongshan culture, ca. 4700 to 2900 BCE. A hand-carved nephrite jade amulet in the form of an abstract zoomorphic figure, often referred to as a "pig dragon" (zhulong). Characterized by its limbless, coiled body - sometimes interpreted as fetal-shaped - this piece features a prominent central hole and a slit between the snout and tail, with an additional smaller suspension hole along the outer edge, likely for wearing as a talisman. The Hongshan culture, a sophisticated Neolithic society spanning present-day Liaoning province and Inner Mongolia, is renowned for its elaborate ceremonial sites and masterful jade craftsmanship, with pig dragon pendants believed to hold spiritual or ritual significance. Size: 2" Diameter (5.1 cm)

Provenance: private Great Barrington, Massachusetts, USA collection, 1995 to 2005 or via inheritance; ex-JCT collection, U.S. Navy Commander, assembled 1926 to 1934

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#193037

  • Condition: Surface nicks and pitting throughout, but smooth with age. Mineral encrustations on the surface.

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July 10, 2025 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

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