This set of jade ornaments comprise a lovely arc shaped jade plaque or huang, purportedly from the Han dynasty (206 BC-24AD) and four cylindrical beads of unknown vintage.
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| A set of jade ornaments |
The top ornament is a an arc shaped plaque or huang with dragon heads on both ends while the body is decorated with low relief grain design on one side. Measuring 8cm x 1cm this ornament is often seen in the Han dynasty (206BC-24 AD) as well as earlier dynasties and cultures.
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| Double headed dragon heads on arc shaped plaque or huang |
The back is plain and uncarved
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| Uncarved back |
The short cylindrical beads have a strange carving of what looks like a bird at one end....
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| carved image looks like a bird |
..... and an upturned tail at the other..
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| Looks like a tail? |
The perforation is large and biconical
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| large bi conical perforation |
The design wraps round the cylindrical bead and can best be seen when impressed against a plasticine mould somewhat like a seal. The image that appears on the mould looks like a bird floating on water the head at one end and an upturned tail at the other. Or is it a boat ? It could also be some archaic language. This bird like or boat like image is bordered by two cloud scrolls often seen in the Zhou-Han periods. The beads measure approximately 2cm x 1.3cm. I have not come across this design on jade beads before and am still trying to figure out which era it belongs. Wish someone could enlighten me!
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| Design seen when impressed on a mold |
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