Chinese Toggle Depicting Dragon

Crouching horned beast bares its teeth in dusty pink and grey.

This toggle depicting dragon is from China, and dates to the 19th century. It is jade. The dragon is a popular toggle motif symbolizing wisdom, ambition and prosperity, a five-clawed version represented the emperor, and a dragon with a phoenix suggested marriage and was a wedding gift. Low and reclining, the creature has an open mouth, a pointed horn and a swept-back mane, its body marked by shallow incised lines like scales. The color shifts from pale cream at the head to a muted mauve-grey along the back and a rolled tail. It is 1.75 inches wide, 1.25 deep and 1.25 high.

All teeth and no real intention to bite.