Mat, KC Ipcress,, you people who know Japanese, Chinese items,,pics added !!

[Jackd243]

Hi all thanks for looking at my item thought it would be easier to just register on here and post directly forgot to mention that the hole is 2cm at the opening but that the opening is only 3mm wide and underneath the opening it is actually a wider hole so on the inside the hole is actually 2.6cm dia instead of the 2cm dia which it is as opening. I also believe going by what i have read online about difference between jade and soapstone is that this is jade due to being translucent under bright light but i still maybe wrong not being the expert but my other question is if its jade what sort of price in current condition could it be worth. Thanks

[SophieMarie]

Mart, have one of those new drones drop it at my doorstep please!!!

[Jackd243]

Lol belive me if i had a drone i would not be sitting on here way to much fun

[mart]

Jack243 you need to read some of the other threads to get this one !! Glad to see you decided to join here !!  While we can just go by the pics it does not look like jade to me !!   But it does look like SophieMaries pics of the Li dragon !!  Let  Mat take a look since he is more familiar with this type of collectable !!The larger diameter inside the hole would be consistant with an incense burner as thy are triangular and larger at the bottom !!

[Mat]

In my opinion the beasts are Chilong. I still think this is a small water pot, here some old examples of similar size: http://elogedelart.canalblog.com/archives/2010/05/15/17901484.html
I do not know which stone it is made of, but I do not think it is old and it seems to be artificially dyed. Chinese incense burners have a different shape.
Mat

[mart]

They would roll over in their grave if they saw what I use for a water pot !!
Evidently these are for writing with a tiny brush rather than painting ??   Both of the creatures,,yours and SophieMarie`s have similar features !!

[SophieMarie]

Here are some ways to identify soapstone:
http://www.xmdragon.com/Industry_news/201204301328.html

[Mat]

SophieMarie, do you have any sources for what a Li dragon is? I tried to find something without success. A Chilong is a dragon without horns, and I would think that the animal from your link is also one...
Mat

[SophieMarie]

Hi Mat,

Nice to hear from you!  I don't have ONE link for the Li Dragon, but can tell you that there are many carved dragons out there that refer to such.  Besides the one I listed earlier, here is another one:
https://www.invaluable.co.uk/auction-lot/chinese-hetian-jade-belt-buckle-carved-fortune-li-172-c-7794fb0963#

After seeing your comment about the Chilong Dragon, I did some poking around!  It appears that the Li Dragon is a cat breed in China (Ha! I thought that creature looked like a cat).  However, the name Chinese Li Hua and Dragon Li have been utilized internationally to reflect the symbolic nature of China relevant to the mythical Chinese dragon:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Li

And, furthermore; you are correct in saying that the "hornless dragon" is called Chilong:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_dragon

Also, I did see your photos pertaining to the ink pots or wells.  I too, saw the same thing with the shape, etc.  And, I was on the fence between the ink pot and incense burner.  All of the ink pots with dimensions given were taller than the one Mart gave us, but similar in size.  So, they would hold an amount of ink that I found reasonable.  Less than a half teaspoon of ink doesn't seem to make sense to me....what do you think?

[SophieMarie]

Hi all thanks for looking at my item thought it would be easier to just register on here and post directly forgot to mention that the hole is 2cm at the opening but that the opening is only 3mm wide and underneath the opening it is actually a wider hole so on the inside the hole is actually 2.6cm dia instead of the 2cm dia which it is as opening. I also believe going by what i have read online about difference between jade and soapstone is that this is jade due to being translucent under bright light but i still maybe wrong not being the expert but my other question is if its jade what sort of price in current condition could it be worth. Thanks

Jackd243,

Hello and welcome to the forum!  I wanted to make certain that I understand the measurements (see photo please).  You are saying that the outside diameter of the hole is 2cm.  And that as you go further down to the wall, the measurement across is 2.6cm.  Please let me know if that is accurate.

Also, were does the 3mm come in?  Did you mean 3cm? 

Could you also please confirm height of the object?  Thank you!

[Jackd243]

Hi sophiemarie the 3mm is the extra hole width under the lip so top of hole is 2cm which is like a lip and then inside the hole is an extra 3mm all the way round giving an internal diameter of 2.6cm

[Jackd243]

Hi have added a few more photos in better light to try and show natural colour of the stone and the dragons. Having read the article about testing i have no idea whos fingernails they use to test these stones but i know my fingernails do not scratch it.

[mart]

Still looks like soapstone but appears to have been polished/varnished recently !!  Too much of a sheen for what I would expect from jade or soapstone !!  And looks like it settled in the low places of the carvings !!

[Jackd243]

Hi mart its not been polished the shine you can see on it in the low places and around the carvings is actually water where i didnt dry it properly lol

[mart]

Ha !! Well,, shame on you Jack243 for not telling me it was wet !!    I am just ribbing you so don`t take it seriously !!  At least that explains the sheen !!