China, Hong Shan Culture, 3500 to 2200 BCE. Deep-green jade stone in the form of a pig dragon, carved in almost-circular form with two circular holes and deep groove up backside. 3-1/2" x 2-3/4" x 1/2"

A pig dragon or zhūlóng (Chinese: t 玉豬龍, s 玉猪龙 is a type of jade artifact from neolithic China. Pig dragons are zoomorphic forms with a pig-like head and elongated limbless body coiled around to the head and described as "suggestively fetal." Early pig dragons are thick and stubby, and later examples have more graceful, snakelike bodies. Pig dragons were produced by the Hongshan culture. Along with the same culture's jade eagles (玉鷹), they often featured as grave goods. Pig bones have been found interred alongside humans at Hongshan burial sites, suggesting that the animal had some ritual significance. There is some speculation that the pig dragon is the first representation of the Chinese dragon. The character for "dragon" in the earliest Chinese writing has a similar coiled form, as do later jade dragon amulets from the Shang period.

Provenance: Ex-private Arizona collection

Starting price is price at which piece can sell.

Intact/excellent condition