Featured Framed & Pierced Ivory Dragon Pendant w/Ojime & Barrel Clasp

~2 3/8" tall X ~2" at its widest, ~3/16" thick, dead flat. I haven't counted the piercings, but guess at around 100. The dragon looks Chinese, to me. The 'ojime' is carved, but I cannot make any pattern out of it; the barrel clasp may not be ivory. The back side is highly polished, and could be so from long wear against a garment...or human skin. The broken area in the piercing doesn't offend me at all.

Do any of you see anything specific about the image of the dragon in the pierced frame, like a ritualistic symbol or such? Or is it simply an ornament? Does its style suggest an age? Thanks for lookin'!

 

wonderful ivory carving.........

funny how the nose looks like a frog...

 

You see these a lot just as parts of a necklace, not working as ojime. I always think of them as rose beads, or floral at any rate.

 

I really love OP's piece. I see a man with a bulbous nose and big teeth, and I can't unsee it.

Sorry OP, I'll go sit in the corner now. I really do like your piece though.

 

The bead is added to sit on top of the pendant, and secure its position on the centre of the cord. It is a feature of many traditional Chinese pendant necklaces.
It looks 1920s to me, so pre-CITES.

Different material, same idea with the bead to secure the pendant:

 

That's fab info, thank you AJ for sharing your extensive knowledge, always given so freely xxx
Thank you to everyone else too of course!

 

Looks a bit like a stylised fish!

 

Hmmm...Dunno 'bout dat. But Dragons an' fish share scales; so you might have something there...