China, Qing dynasty, 18th/19th century - Lot 91

China, Qing dynasty, 18th/19th century Openwork white jade belt buckle, in two parts, each carved and openworked in the form of an "infinite knot (panchang 盘长)", one of the eight Buddhist auspicious symbols (bajixiang), and imitating a twisted thread, one ending in a dragon-head hook, the smooth reverse sides with a fastening button on each. L. 9.8 cm LM Provenance: Acquired by French engineer and diplomat Henri Maux (1901-1950) during his mission to China between 1945 and 1949 (between Shanghai, Nanjing and Hong Kong), and remained in his family ever since. Two small knocks (no shards, each one causing a crack/craquelure in the jade) on the back of the hookless half - one on the rim, the other on the knob.