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A VERY RARE AQUAMARINE-BLUE GLASS ‘TAOTIE AND DRAGON’ DISC (BI), WESTERN HAN DYNASTY China, 206 BC-8 AD. Of circular form with a central aperture, each side finely carved with an inner band of raised, comma-shaped spirals, framed by an outer register composed of paired taotie masks above and below, their curving horns merging into a continuous frieze of highly stylized, interlocking dragons, framed on one side by narrow rope-twist borders. The translucent glass of an aquamarine-blue tone, particularly luminous when viewed against the light, with areas of white calcification and adherent soil encrustation. Provenance: From The Sam and Myrna Myers Collection, Paris, France. Acquired between circa 1965-2012. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age, with ancient wear and manufacturing irregularities. Distinct traces of weathering and corrosion. Occasional small nicks. Minor nibbling and few minute chips along the edges. The vitreous surface with some areas of whitish calcification and soil encrustation. Weight: 294.8 g Dimensions: Diameter 19.9 cm Jade discs decorated with a border of grain-pattern surrounded by a band of animal masks, began to appear around the middle to late period of the Warring States. A large number of related discs were excavated from the old capital of the State of Lu in Qufu, Shandong Province, and found in the Han dynasty tombs of the King of Nanyue and other nobles, demonstrating the high status and rank associated with discs such as the present lot. It has also been suggested that this type of disc may have served as ceremonial objects for Imperial sacrifice to the sun. For a detailed discussion, see Teng Shu P'ing, One Hundred Jades from the Lantien Shanfang Collection, 1995, p. 49-50. Chinese fascination with jade had reached an unprecedented height by the Western Han dynasty. Territorial expansion to the west and the establishment of the Silk Road facilitated the transport of high-quality raw jade from the Kunlun Mountains to central China. Jade was esteemed not only as a symbol of wealth and virtue in life but also as a means of preventing the decay of the body in the afterlife. Jade discs, particularly those crafted from jade imported from Hetian (modern-day Khotan, Xinjiang), were highly prized by the Han elite. Alternatives to jade, such as high-quality crystal or glass, were occasionally employed, particularly when the objective was to emulate the aesthetic qualities of jade without resorting to the more precious and rare material. The use of blue crystal in such contexts was exceptional, though documented in the case of special commissions. This medium afforded greater transparency and a finer polish, enabling decorative motifs to be more fully articulated than was typically possible with jade, while simultaneously enhancing the visual presence of the disc. The blue coloration could also carry specific symbolic connotations, often linked to the celestial realm and to notions of spiritual protection. Literature comparison: Compare a related turquoise-blue glass disc (bi), Western Han dynasty, 206 BC-8 AD, 17.8 cm diameter, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 2006.404. Compare a related dark green jade disc (bi), Western Han dynasty, 206 BC-8 AD, 24.8 cm diameter, in the Denver Art Museum, accession number 1954.9. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Zacke Vienna, 5 March 2021, lot 48 Price: EUR 7,584 or approx. EUR 9,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: An aquamarine green glass disc (bi), Han dynasty Expert remark: Compare the related form, material, and color of the glass. Note the smaller size (14.3 cm).

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Glass