Liao‑Jin‑Dynasty Set of Four Bone Implements with Open‑Work Decoration

拍品描述

Dimensions: Longest 19 cm (7.48 inches), shortest 14.5 cm (5.71 inches), total weight 81 grams; Period: 10th-13th centuries. Condition and Provenance: All four bone artifacts are in their original, intact form. The surface exhibits natural ancient bone weathering and soil marks. Slight signs of aging are present around the edges of some openwork holes. Some artifacts retain their original dotted circular patterns. Uneven blue-green mineral crusts cover parts of the surface. No signs of modern restoration or later recarving. Natural burial patina is retained. Minor ancient chips and scratches are present in a few areas, a common feature of ancient bone artifacts. From a private collection in New York, USA. This collection was acquired in the 1990s by an experienced collector of Northern Steppe antiques in the Bangkok antique market. It has been stored in professional display cases for research and exhibition purposes only, never publicly auctioned, and has no exhibition record. Description: This set comprises four Liao-Jin dynasty bone artifacts, practical objects from the nomadic culture of the Northern Steppes, exquisitely crafted from animal bones. These bone artifacts vary in length and are long, flat strips. Some have round or conical ends, while the other end is covered with densely packed circular perforations. One artifact has multiple parallel slits, while two others are decorated with dotted patterns. The manufacturing process includes grinding, drilling, perforation, and fine carving, resulting in a simple yet exquisite overall technique. The burial environment created a multi-toned patina on the bones, blending gray-white, beige, and turquoise colors, with the natural texture of the bones clearly visible. The nomadic peoples of the Liao and Jin dynasties widely used animal bones to make daily utensils. These perforated bone artifacts served multiple practical functions. Complete sets are extremely rare, providing invaluable material evidence of daily life on the grasslands and ancient handicraft techniques, possessing significant ethnological, archaeological, and collectible value.

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