Wooden panel with jade “Bi”, Qing dynasty

Beautiful disc of jade or “Bi” of light, slightly yellowish tonality, with reddish and ochre spots. Adorned on both sides, it shows, on one of them, two elongated dragons with coiled body, sinuous tail and fierce expression crowned with large and sharp horns. On the reverse, there are two concentric rings, the first, closer to the centre, is decorated with small spiral patterns, framed by a striated border, similar to a rope, which gives way to the second ring, decorated with meandering mythological beasts of elongated and coiled body made in bas-relief. 

The magnificent jade is arranged on a carved wooden panel or table screen, decorated in great detail with reliefs of archaic motifs that frame the structure and a central scene where ferocious five-clawed dragons furrow a raging sea covered by billowing clouds. 

Both the jade and the wood show patina and wear due to ageing. 

Size: 43.7 x 20 x 29.7 cm; Weight: 3289 g. 

Provenance: French private collection