Chinese Plaque Amulet Depicting Dragon Subduing Demon

Above a twisting body, a snarling face glows in honey-orange.

This plaque amulet depicting a dragon subduing a demon is from China, and dates to the early 20th century. It is bone. Bone has been carved in China for many centuries, and its pale, dense surface is well suited to small amulets with shallow relief. Tall and narrow, this rectangle is carved in low relief with a bulging-eyed head at the top and curling, scaled shapes beneath. The honey-orange surface is smooth, translucent in places, and mounted on a black stand. It is 1.75 inches wide, 0.5 deep and 4 high.

Fierce shapes in candy tones, a very sweet contradiction.