Page 42 - 2021 March 18th Junkunc Collection Christie's New York City

IMPORTANT CHINESE ART FROM THE JUNKUNC COLLECTION | 瓊肯珍藏重要中國藝術

The decoration on this rare sheath is very unusual. Also typical of Liao metalwork is the use of ring-matting.
The dragons, with their fierce demeanor and contorted, This can be seen as the background on a number of pieces
twisting movements, appear to be related to those seen illustrated by Jenny. F. So, Noble Riders from Pines and
on metalwork, such as bronze mirrors, gold and silver- Deserts: The Artistic Legacy of the Qidan, Art Museum,
gilt vessels and personal ornaments of Tang, Liao and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004, including
Song date. Jenny. F. So in Chinese Jades from the Cissy several gold and gilt-silver bracelets, pp. 166-71, pls. IV:9,
and Robert Tang Collection, Art Museum, The Chinese IV:10 and IV:11; a set of gilt-silver belt ornaments, pp.
University of Hong Kong, 2015, illustrates, p. 156, fig. 29.2, 210-13, pl. V:6; and a small gilt-silver cylindrical container
a detail of a such a dragon that decorates a gilt-silver box with honeysuckle scroll decoration that would have been
from the tomb of Liao Princess Chen (d. 1018), and notes suspended from a belt, pp. 230-31, pl. V:15 (B). It can also
that these types of dragons were "applied to metalwork be seen to indicate the scales of a dragon shown leaping
with imperial associations." The features, including the against a ground of waves that decorates the gold cover
muzzle, open jaws, three-clawed feet and scaly body of an inkstone, pp. 364-65, pl. VII:31. Further similar
seen on the Liao dragon are quite similar to those of the dragons on a wave ground, some shown chasing a flaming
dragons on the present object. The author also discusses pearl, decorate the five, graduated silver-gilt plaques of
similar dragons on small jade articles and belt plaques of a belt or waist brace, illustrated pp. 206-07, pl. V:4. The
10th and 11th century date, including a jade belt plaque author notes, p. 208, that the Qidan adopted the dragon,
from the tomb of Wang Jian (buried AD 918) in Chengdu, a traditional Chinese imperial symbol, after coming
Sichuan province, p. 157, fig. 29.3. into contact with the Chinese and reserved its use for
"members of the Qidan ruling family."

(detail)

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