Neolithic Hongshan Culture Chicken-Bone White Jade Silkworm Pendant, circa 4700–2900 BCE

拍品描述

Dimensions: Length 5.8 cm (2.28 in / 0.19 ft); width 2.3 cm (0.91 in / 0.08 ft); Hongshan Culture, Neolithic Period, approximately 47th–29th century BCE Weight: 45 g (approx. 1.59 oz)Condition & Provenance: The pendant is preserved intact overall, with no apparent major breakage, losses, or restoration. The jade displays a characteristic chicken-bone-white appearance, with fine interconnected weathering lines and naturally mottled yellowish-brown and gray-brown accretions distributed throughout the surface. The raised transverse ribs defining the segmented body, the incised decoration at the terminal end, and the lateral suspension perforation remain clearly visible. The perforation is smoothly finished internally and retains visible drilling and working traces. The entire carving has a softly rounded, subdued polish, with darker deposits remaining within recessed areas and carved grooves. Provenance: Private Collection, California, USA. Acquired from an antique gallery in London in 1996 and subsequently retained within the same family collection for nearly 30 years; accompanied by original collection documentation.Description: This compact and highly sculptural pendant is carved from a single piece of chicken-bone-white jade in the form of a curled silkworm or chrysalis. The design is immediately recognizable for its strongly arched profile, substantial body, and rhythmic sequence of raised transverse ribs, which divide the carving into a series of clearly articulated segments. Rather than relying on elaborate surface ornament, the sculptor used volume, curvature, and repetition to capture the essential character of the silkworm. One terminal end is flattened and decorated with shallow incised lines arranged into an abstract facial composition. Simple geometric strokes suggest the eyes and other features, providing a striking contrast to the smoothly rounded body. The segmented underside is particularly effective, with four pronounced transverse divisions projecting gently from the body and creating alternating bands of light and shadow. A lateral perforation near the head allows the object to be suspended or worn. Its interior wall is smoothly worked, while darker accretions within the opening emphasize the depth and substantial thickness of the jade. The surface ranges from pale ivory to creamy bone white and is animated by an extensive network of fine weathering lines together with irregular yellow-brown, tan, and darker gray accretions. These variations continue into the incised grooves and perforation, producing a richly layered visual effect against the otherwise restrained form. The entire object has been carefully ground and polished, leaving the edges soft, the curves continuous, and the finish muted rather than highly reflective. Silkworm imagery held particular significance within early Chinese agricultural culture. Closely associated with sericulture and the extraordinary transformation from larva to cocoon and moth, the silkworm naturally became a compelling symbol of growth, renewal, fertility, continuity, and regeneration. At only 5.8 cm in length, this pendant possesses an unexpectedly substantial sculptural presence. Its compact curved silhouette, clearly segmented body, abstract incised head, suspension system, and richly weathered chicken-bone-white surface combine to produce a visually powerful small-scale carving. The restrained treatment is characteristic of the strongest prehistoric jade designs: the subject is reduced to its essential forms, yet remains immediately expressive through proportion, tactile volume, and carefully controlled line.

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