Chinese Jade Belt Buckle

Late Qing and Early Republican Chinese jadeite jade belt buckle carved with sinuous dragons.

The two-part carving is natural green jadeite with striations, brighter on the face and visibly mottled on the buckle backing.

The ‘chilong’ is a hornless dragon, a common motif in ancient Chinese art, and is the traditional Chinese architecture adornment of the Western gargoyle.

Specifically, this meandering pattern of the hornless dragon is the pánchīwén, carved patterns of sinuous dragons on pillars and bronzes.

Each dragon carving is centred on a flat (undulating) rectangle base, in such a way fabric can be manipulated under snugly.

The hook is carved with a mystical beast mask, a rectilinear composition frames this buckle all around.

Two cords or one single length of ribbon may be used with this buckle, depending on one’s creative tendencies.

The photos give a larger-than-life impression of its size, though the measurements of 9.5cm by 4.5cm relate the buckle to just slightly bigger or comparable to a modern belt.