California Asian Art Auction California Asian Art Auction
 June 11, 2022  June 11, 2022

 Lot # 5305 
A CHINESE JADE 'CHI' DRAGON SWORD    漢或以後 鏤空螭龍紋玉劍


  • Dimension: Height: 2/8 in (0.5 cm) Length: 15 2/8 in (38.5 cm) Width: 1 1/2 in (3.8 cm)
  • Estimate From: $3500
  • Estimate To: $5000

The double edged blade finely carved and pierced in openwork to depict archaistic scrolling kui dragon pattern, the bevelled hilt finely incised with scroll and crisscross pattern, all above an openwork pommel carved in the form of stylized mythical beast head. Han Dynasty period or later.


「君子佩玉,小人藏刀」,古人將劍譽爲兵器中的君子,劍被認爲是有君子之德的兵器,故而君子亦常佩之以明志。劍剛正不阿,是爲正直;劍柔韌卻不曲(屈),是爲進退有度;劍無事則鋒芒內斂,是爲謙遜;劍有事則出鞘以止惡,是爲俠義;劍貼身護主,是爲忠勇。劍者無槍矛盛氣凌人的霸氣,無弓矢孤注一擲的霸道,無刀斧趨利而彎的勢利,也無鈍器沉重複雜的內心。劍代表的是俠士,君王,將領,權威和地位,是自翊有身份的人使用的,其權威的象徵意義大於實用意義。而用玉製作劍已經逐步失去了其實用功能,更多的是展示權威和身份的象徵。此玉劍應爲漢代王侯貴族所有之物,灰白質地,玉質通透,瑩潤光潔,表面多處帶有灰白沁斑,劍把帶有紅硃砂沁,造型別致,工藝考究規整,可謂古玉上品。紋飾章法有序,謹嚴之中又富於變化,表現標新立異的風格和漢代雄健渾樸之時代氣息。採用「透雕」「陰刻」等手法,雕飾「螭龍紋」「雷文」「勾雲紋」等,紋飾繁而不亂,規矩大方,刻畫極其細緻,工藝精美考究,包漿色澤無可挑剔,爲漢代玉雕最高水準,實爲極其罕見的收藏佳品。