31. Han Dynasty Inscribed Open-worked Jade Bi w/ reign Title Houyuan, w/ Extension , H. 36 cms, W.22.5, T. 0.8cm

本器和田黃玉雕琢, 形制為鏤空出

廓玉璧. 出廓部分頂端飾雙龍相向托住通天之門, 龍身下方

飾天帝, 左右飾鳳紋, 天帝雙腳騎在虺龍之上.  璧的部分區分兩層, 外層飾鏤空龍鳳紋, 中間層雙面陰刻取材自:《史記孝景本紀篆體銘文:正面為” 丞相周亞夫..中四年三月,置德陽宮。大蝗。秋,赦徒作陽陵者. 更命廷尉為大理,中六年二月己卯,行幸雍,郊見五帝。三月,雨雹。四月,梁孝王、城陽共王、汝南王皆薨。立梁孝王子明為

濟川王,子彭離為濟東王” (反面為 子定為山陽王,子不識為濟陰王。梁分為五。封四侯。更命廷尉為大理,將作少府為將作大匠,主爵中尉為都尉,長信詹事為長信少府,將行為大長秋,大行為行人,奉常為太常,典客為大行,治粟內史為大農。以大內為二千石,置左右內官,屬大內。七月辛亥,日食。八月,匈奴入上郡。後元年冬,更命中大夫令為衛尉。三月丁酉,赦天下,賜爵一級,中二千石、諸侯相爵右庶長。四月,大酺。落款漢景帝”. 后元(後元) (前88年-前87年2月)為漢武帝最後一個年號. 本器雕工精湛, 各紋飾的呈現 細膩生動, 文字雕琢更是優美, 加以差異風化, 擴散暈沁色, 溶蝕孔, 石灰沁等古玉跡象明顯, 是漢代銘文出廓鏤空玉璧精品. ( 來源:  家族百年收藏)

This object is carved from Hetian yellow tone jade and is in the shape of a jade bi with extension. The top of the extension is decorated with two dragons facing each other to hold the gate to the sky. The bottom of the dragon is decorated with the emperor of heaven, and the left and right sides are decorated with phoenix patterns. The emperor of heaven rides on the dragon with his feet. The Bi part is divided into two layers, the outer layer is decorated with open-worked dragon and phoenix patterns, and the middle layer is inscribed on both sides. The engraving is taken from the “Historical Records of Xiaojing Chapter” seal type inscription. Signed Han Jingdi”. Houyuan (Houyuan) (88 BC – February 87 BC) was the last year of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. The ornamentation is delicate and vivid, the text carving is even more beautiful, and the differential weathering, diffusive markings, dissolved pits, and calcification of ancient jade signs are obvious. It is a masterpiece of scripted open-worked jade bi with an extension from the Han Dynasty.