An exquisitely carved rectangular plaque of very pale celadon nephrite jade. Carved on both sides, the Dragon rests atop, undulating, its body the total width of the piece. The Phoenix Is repetitively depicted on the front and back. What makes the piece so extraordinary is the depth of the piece and the intricate curvature of the piercing.  Nephrite is evenly translucent and mostly absent of any inclusions, however; at one corner is a small vein of rust coloration caused by iron oxide. This is a very rare antique nephrite. The overall measurements are 58.60 mm. x 38.90 mm, depth of 7.10 mm. The Dragon and Phoenix peacefully coexist amidst intertwined leaves and tendrils with over 100 piercings at well-calculated intervals, meticulously carved with a soft luster and light patina attesting the trace of age. This may have been used as a small scroll weight. For the Chinese, the fictional Dragon and Phoenix are traditional animals that symbolize auspiciousness. Because dragons are deeply rooted in Chinese culture, the Chinese often consider themselves to be decedents of the dragon, and Chinese emperors believed themselves to be real dragons. The Chinese Phoenix, likewise, exists only in legends and folklore. The phoenix was referred to as the “king of Birds”. As sovereign of all birds, it has the head of a golden pheasant, a parrot's beak, the body of a mandarin duck, the wings of the mythological roc, the feathers of a peacock, and the legs of a crane. Country of Origin: China. Circa: Early 19th Century