Large Jade and Soapstone Cloud Dragon Sculpture With Multiple Flaming Pearls Atop a Chinese Dragon Turtle

Description

A very heavy hand carved Chinese stone sculpture full of symbolism and mythology. Three different types of soapstone make up … more A very heavy hand carved Chinese stone sculpture full of symbolism and mythology. Three different types of soapstone make up the piece. The darker base is a massive dragon turtle, a Longgui (see below), while the lighter upper section features multiple green and brown dragons chasing the eternal flaming pearl through the heavens, topped with another turtle.
Hidden inside the upper section a lighter large green jade coloured stone ball is best visible (behind the main green dragon) through the carving.
This may be jade - it is hard to access to test and photograph. The slightly different green stone also forms part of the front decoration - dragons chasing a large pearl. A very intricate and complex carving.

A most unusual piece. Please note the weight is approx. 20lbs.
It measures W13", D7", H19" approx.
Listed by East2West Furniture.

A dragon turtle (Lóngguī) is a legendary Chinese creature that combines two of the four celestial animals of Chinese mythology: the body of a turtle with a dragon's head is promoted as a positive ornament in Feng Shui, symbolizing courage, determination, fertility, longevity, power, success, and support. less