Southern Song Dynasties
Length: 9.5cm
Width: 6.5cm

This is a belt hook on the emperor's ceremonial dress, which is called Xian Bei in the nomadic language. An openwork dragon is twisted within and creeping along the rectangular frame. Squama pattern and netlike design in small lines covered the dragon's body. Nine tiny holes on the border are designed to be threaded with gold or silver silk ribbons and leather strips. There are many other holes on the dragon and the jewelries originally inlaid in them are all gone. The smooth back has no images. The 46-character inscriptions on both sides recorded its name, the time it was made and the names of the supervising officials. This jade clasp belonged to Liu Yilong, an emperor of Song of the Southern Dynasties. The production of jade decreased during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The lustrous stuff, excellent craftsmanship, and inscriptions with precise dating make it unrivalled among extant treasures.