A CHINESE ARCHAISTIC GREY JADE AO PENDANT MING DYNASTY With the horned head of a dragon

A CHINESE ARCHAISTIC GREY JADE AO PENDANT MING DYNASTY With the horned head of a dragon, his legs held close to the body, the shell of a tortoise and with a long trifurcated tail curling onto its back, 5cm. Provenance: from the collection of Surgeon Lieutenant George Giri, b.1923, purchased in Hong Kong 1962-65. Cf. J Ayers, A Jade Menagerie, Creatures real and Imaginary from the Worrell Collection, pp.26-27 and 68, no.9 for a similar carving of a dragon-headed tortoise. Also see Bluett & Son Ltd., Dr Newton's Zoo, p.37, no.70 for a related carving of a similar creature.