A rare grey-white jade openwork 'dragon' plaque. Yuan-Ming Dynasty

A rare grey-white jade openwork 'dragon' plaque. Yuan-Ming Dynasty © 2002-2010 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

The oval plaque finely carved with a writhing dragon amidst foliage, carved in profile looking towards the left, its mouth agape, the body with cross-hatched scales, the stone of grey-white tone, all set within a white-metal buckle. 8.7cm (3⅜in) wide. Sold for £3,000

Footnote: Compare a similarly carved dragon, but without upper body scales, attributed to the Song Dynasty, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jadeware (II), Hong Kong, 1995, pl.62.

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Art, 11 Nov 2010. New Bond Street  www.bonhams.com