Neolithic Hongshan Culture River-Polished Jade Thick Jue Pendant with Natural Russet Staining, circa 4700–2900 BCE

拍品描述

Dimensions: Height 3 cm (1.18 in / 0.10 ft); Width 2.7 cm (1.06 in / 0.09 ft); Late Neolithic Period, 5th–3rd Millennium BCE，Weight: 31.8 grams (1.12 oz)，Condition & Provenance: The jade jue is preserved intact overall, with no apparent chips, losses, or restoration. Carved from river-polished nephrite, the stone displays a dense, softly lustrous texture with a pale yellow-green to celadon tone. A prominent area of russet and yellow-brown coloration extends across one side, following the natural structure of the jade with gently graduated tonal variation. The central aperture is worked from opposing sides and has smoothly finished interior walls retaining visible rotational drilling and abrasive-working traces. The characteristic narrow lateral split is carefully cut and polished, while the thick ring body has been extensively smoothed to produce full, rounded contours. Subtle weathering, surface variation, and an aged matte-to-waxy luster are visible throughout. Provenance: Private Collection, Switzerland. Acquired during the 1990s and retained within the same collection for more than thirty years.Description: This substantial jade jue is fashioned from a single piece of river-polished nephrite into the thick, split-ring form associated with prehistoric Chinese personal ornament. Although compact at only 3 cm in height, its 31.8-gram weight gives the piece a notably dense and sculptural presence. The form is deliberately simple and powerful: a broad central aperture is enclosed by a thick, slightly elliptical body, interrupted along one side by the narrow opening that defines the jue type. The jade itself is particularly appealing. Its underlying pale yellow-green and celadon coloration is accented by a broad field of russet, amber-brown, and yellow-brown tones, producing a naturally variegated surface that becomes the principal decoration of the otherwise undecorated object. Rather than relying on elaborate carving, the piece emphasizes material, proportion, curvature, and negative space—qualities closely associated with the restrained visual language of early Chinese jade. The interior and exterior contours are carefully rounded and smoothly finished. The central opening retains visible rotational and abrasive-working traces, while the narrow side split has been polished to integrate naturally into the heavy ring body. Viewed from the side, the unusual thickness becomes especially apparent, giving the pendant a compact monumentality beyond its small dimensions. Jade jue, or split-ring ornaments, form an important category within prehistoric Chinese jade traditions. Archaeological examples are generally associated with personal adornment, including ear ornaments and suspended accessories, and their occurrence in burial contexts also points to social and ceremonial significance. Producing such an object from hard nephrite required sustained drilling, abrasion, shaping, and polishing, making the apparent simplicity of the finished form deceptive. With its substantial weight, thick proportions, smoothly rounded surfaces, pronounced central aperture, and expressive russet coloration, this example presents the minimalist geometry and tactile character that make prehistoric Chinese jade compelling to collectors. Its compact but powerful silhouette would make it an attractive study piece within a collection devoted to Hongshan and early Chinese jade-working traditions.

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