Page 60 - Sotheby's New York Chinese Jade Auction September 13, 2018

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE GERARD ARNHOLD
951
AN UNUSUAL WHITE JADE HINGED TWO-PART BELT FITTING
17TH-18TH CENTURY
The two circular halves are carved in low relief with different designs of chilong, and joined by
a rectangular link carved in high relief and undercut on top with a crouching mythical beast
and in low relief on the underside with a quatrefoil motif. One half has a central aperture to
accommodate a circular button that projects from the center of the reverse of the other half,
and the reverse of each half is carved with an archaistic design of comma spirals. The stone
is of even, warm white color and softly polished.
4Ω in. (11.5 cm.) wide
$12,000-18,000

PROVENANCE
Spink & Son Ltd., London, 1992.
The Gerard Arnhold (1918-2010) Collection, São Paolo.
The form of this hinged belt ftting appears to be based on Yuan dynasty prototypes, such
as the example carved on both halves with a chilong, illustrated in Zhongguo Yuqi Quangji
- 5 - Sui, Tang, Ming, Hebei, 1994, p. 113, pl. 171, where it is described as a belt huan.
Although each half is of somewhat square shape, they are similarly joined by a link and, like
the present ftting, one half has a central opening and the other has a button that protrudes
from the reverse. See, also, the jade hinged two-part belt buckle dated to the Yuan dynasty,
(another view)
illustrated by R. Keverne, Jade, London, 1991, p. 134, fg. 14. Each square half of this
buckle has a central hole surrounded by a chilong carved in high relief. As the two halves can
be folded together it is possible that the ftting was stored folded.
十七/十八世紀 白玉雕螭龍紋帶環

58 FINE CHINESE JADE CARVINGS from Private Collections