Hongshan‑Period Stone Monkey Statue

拍品描述

Dimensions: Height 12.8 cm (5.04 in). Width 9 cm (3.54 in.), Weight 883 g. Neolithic. Condition and Provenance: This hand-carved limestone monkey statue is in excellent physical condition, without extensive modern restorations or glued composite parts. The entire surface is covered with ancient chisel and pick marks, with minor wear in some areas. Due to long burial underground, there are old chips and shallow flaking at the edges. The entire statue retains a thick, natural patina, deeply embedded in the stone's texture. There is no artificial staining or chemical treatment, and facial or body details have not been recarved. All traces of the original carving tools are intact. This rare Neolithic stone sculpture comes from a historic private collection in California that focuses on early prehistoric artifacts from northern China. It was acquired in the early 1990s by a respected Los Angeles Asian antique dealer and has remained in the same family collection ever since. The original purchase documents, archival condition reports, and old photographs are in excellent condition and it is categorized under the Red Mountain Prehistoric Stone Art Group. Its complete timeline of provenance is clear and reliable, dating back to an even earlier period. Description: This magnificent stone monkey statue from the Hongshan period is an outstanding representative of Neolithic stone carving art in northern China. Carved from local limestone using a bold and powerful primitive chiseling technique, the monkey is depicted with an arched back, crouching forward. Its broad facial contours are clearly visible, with sunken eye sockets, an open mouth, and uniquely shaped ears. The limbs are realistically sculpted, with clear details of the claws and fingers. The overall silhouette is bold and powerful, full of primal wild vitality. Animal-themed stone carvings occupy an important place in ancient stone carving art. In the Hongshan culture's ritual system, this monkey sculpture may have served as a totem ornament or a sacrificial object in ancient tribal activities. A complete three-dimensional Hongshan animal stone statue of this size is extremely rare among existing prehistoric sites. It provides irreplaceable material evidence for the study of Hongshan tribal totem worship, ancient stone carving techniques, and Neolithic spiritual beliefs in northern China. It possesses significant archaeological and historical value, museum-level display value, and top-tier antique collection value.

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