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- square face and the details of the claws are nicely carved.
31 Liiguan (pitch-pipe)
greenish white jade with russet markings, height
5.6 cm
Han (probably 122 B.C.)
McElney Collection
Pitch-pipes were made of jade until the late Han dynasty, but later were usually made of bronze. The inscription on it identifies its use and dates it to a specific day in the sixth month of the Yuan Shou reign (122 B.C.).
32 Cicada
white jade? with black areas and veining, length 4.2 cm Han or later Dyer Collection
Pendant in the form of a cicada modelled in the round; details of body, wings and head are in slight relief; perforation through body, drilling scars at top. The cicada typifies resurrection.
33 Figures of a Bearded Old Man
(a) white and pinkish buff jade, height 3.9 cm Han type
Dyer Collection
This toggle figure is perforated with three con�vergent holes, one from the top of the head, the other two from under the sleeves. Highly stylized figure wearing a hat; small indentations to indi�cate eyes and mouth; surface partly crackled.
(b) green jade with brown marking, height 4.8 cm Han type
Dyer Collection
Same type as previous one; sleeves and sleeve folds are well defined; the eyes are incised circles.
(c) honey brown mottled jade?, height 8 cm Han type
Dyer Collection
This figure made of weathered material, has no perforations.
These bearded men are characterized by elonga�ted and almost featureless faces ending in dispro�portionately long beards and surmounted by flat or stepped hats. The bodies can be very compact and shortened to the point of appearing legless. Arms and hands are hidden in wide sleeves.
34 Animal
mottled green and brown jade, length 3.6 cm Six Dynasties McElney Collection
Pebble carving in the form of a squarish animal with beetling eyebrows and a finely striated tail; the bot�tom side shows the feet pads set four square. There is a perforation between the front paws.
35 Ram Toggle
white jade with russet markings, length 4.1 cm Tang or earlier McElney Collection
Carving of recumbent ram; forelegs tucked under the belly; head erect with beautifully detailed treat�ment of the strongly curved horns. Similar horns have been found on a later Han bronze.
36 Double Gourd Pendant
grey jade with brown markings, height 4.3 cm Tang
McElney Collection
Small double gourd pendant decorated in relief with roundels on the top and with phoenix on the bottom half. The double gourd is the emblem of Li Tieguai, one of the Eight Daoist Immortals. A gourd executed in a variety of media was frequently used as a chant to ward off pernicious influences.
37 Belt Plaque
mottled black jade, side 3.5 cm Tang
McElney Collection
Square plaque carved in low relief depicting a beard�ed man with flowing scarf beating a drum. Perfora�tions at the back for attachment. Plaque probably one of a group to be fastened onto a belt similar to the type found in the tomb of Wang Jian (died 918). The jade belt is probably of Central Asian origin and was used in China from about the sixth century onwards.
38 Ram
pinkish grey jade, length 6 cm Late Tang McElney Collection
Carving of roughly triangular shape in the form of a recumbent ram with broad flat tail; the forelegs are bent and point upwards; the head thrust back. The bending of the foreleg is typical of this period and also the colour of the jade is typically late Tang.
39 Figure of a Dancer
white jade with brown areas, height 5.9 cm Tang or later*
Dyer Collection
Figure of a female dancer with one arm raised, dressed in a long sleeved jacket and loose fitting pants, the ends of which are curled up, giving a sense of movement; the jacket is tied at the waist with a ribbon; the hair is done in a knot on the head.
40 Mythical Feline
pale green, grey and black jade, length 5.9 cm Tang-Song McElney Collection
Recumbent feline with powerfully modelled claws and paws; nicely incised fur tail; sinuous spine with contrasted colours... possibly dyed. "Comma�
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