Jade flower-holder in horned-fish shape

Ming dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644)
Height: 15.6 cm Width: 9.55 cm Breadth: 4.26 cm

In this piece the lapidary has ingeniously utilized the dark brown part of the jade to accent the horns, whiskers, spiny fins, and tail of this carp4ike creature. A playful little hornless dragon seems to be hugging or perhaps tickling its belly while the massive fish rears up on its tail, nostrils flaring and eyes bulging in anger and indignation.

Click here for a larger picture
(image size between 100k - 300K)
and use the [BACK] Function key back to this page