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- List of Works
Abbreviations for Captions
Unique Jade of the Ancient Chinese: The Dyer Ancestral Collection (hereafter Dyer Collection) Brian S. McElney Collection (hereafter McElney Collection)
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV)
The dates for the jades in most cases were attri�buted by the collectors. In some cases the authors prefer to suggest differing time periods and these are noted throughout the publication as follows:
(i) the addition of �type� or �?� after the date.
(ii) the addition of "*� indicating a new date attri�bution.
Colour Plates
BACK COVER:
Dragon Plaque
yellow and brown jade, partly calcified, length 10 cm
Late Eastern Zhou Dyer Collection
The body of the dragon forms a double S ending in a bifurcated tail. Each bend is accentuated by a curved or spiraling projection and the largest of these projections just below the neck is suggestive of a bird�s head. The body proper is covered with a pattern of incised spirals in slight relief, whereas the head, tail and projections are striated. Dragon plaques of this type may have served as insets for gold or gilt-bronze belt hooks.
I Disc in Three Segments (Huang)
green jade with white flecks, diameter 12.2 cm, thickness 2-4 mm Western Zhou McElney Collection
Three segments of unequal size making up a com�plete disc. Near the adjoining edges are small conical drilled holes, which would permit the pieces to be held together by thongs or wires.
II Bi-disc
pale beige white jade, diameter 14.2 cm, thickness 3 mm
Late Eastern Zhou Dyer Collection
Bi-disc of translucent jade, partially discoloured to a pinkish buff colour. The decor, identical on both sides, consists of even rows of plastic curls; the pattern is partly incised, partly reserved in relief; there is a large perforation at centre.
III Large Trapezoidal Knife
mottled brown and green jade, length 40.7 cm, thickness 0.5-4 mm Western Zhou Dyer Collection
Along the back are three conical perforations drilled alternately from either side; one perforation is lower and closer to the side. One face of the cutting edge is bevelled. The shape of this cere�monial blade is derived from a knife, the perfor�ations near the back were used to fasten the blade onto a handle.
IV Scepter
mottled green jade partly calcified, length 40.7 cm, thickness 1 -3 mm Western Zhou Dyer Collection
Thin translucent ceremonial blade, the sides slightly widening towards the two pronged top edge; the cutting edge is of deep concave shape. One side of the blade is concave. Near the tang the blade ends in two downward pointing projections. The rectan�gular tang with almost straight butt has a conical perforation.
V Ceremonial Blade
green jade partially calcified to a buff colour, length 37.2 cm, thickness 1-2 mm Western Zhou Dyer Collection
Thin blade widening towards slightly rounded ob�lique edge which is bevelled from one side. The hooked lateral projection between the blade and the tang is very bothersome. This blade has been published in Na Chih-liang�s Chinese Art Treasures: Jade Objects, page 50. The rectangular tang has a conical perforation.
VI Faceted Bracelet
moss agate with orange brown, yellow and white, diameter 10 cm Late Eastern Zhou McElney Collection
The body of this rare agate bracelet seen in cross section is an asymmetrical hexagon. The outer range coming to a narrow plane, the inner edge rounded in six planes. The surface is beautifully polished to a high gloss.
VII Faceted Bracelet
red agate with smokey grey, diameter 7 cm Late Zhou - early Han McElney Collection
Ring or bracelet of same type as the previous one, except that the outer edge is sharp. The inner rim is shaped in six facets.
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