AN IMPORTANT GREEN AND RUSSET JADE TWO-TIERED CONG, LATE NEOLITHIC PERIOD, LIANGZHU CULTURE

拍品描述

AN IMPORTANT GREEN AND RUSSET JADE TWO-TIERED CONG, LATE NEOLITHIC PERIOD, LIANGZHU CULTURE China, c. 3300-2200 BC. Superbly carved, the thick walls articulated with squared projecting corners and divided into two registers: the upper section embellished in high relief with a stylized animal mask bearing circular eyes set beneath a ridged crown and above an elongated mouth, while the lower portion includes an abstracted human mask, defined by carefully incised ovoid eyes. The superbly polished, semi-translucent stone displays an attractively variegated sage green tone, enhanced by deep russet patches and veins, scattered dark specks, and subtle cloudy inclusions. Dimensions: Height 5.3 cm With an associated wood storage box. (2) The Liangzhu culture and its remarkable jade artifacts came to prominence in the late 1980s, when the discovery of several significant cemeteries brought international attention to the richness of their tomb contents. Since then, a wave of new archaeological findings has dramatically transformed our understanding of this late Neolithic civilization. At the Mojiaoshan site, Chinese archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a vast, walled settlement covering 750 acres. This site, the largest known walled settlement from late Neolithic China, includes palatial foundations, jade workshops, habitation zones, and a sophisticated network of internal waterways. Distinguished by their quantity, variety, and superb craftsmanship, Liangzhu jades are among the most iconic artifacts in the history of Chinese civilization. Among them, the jade cong stands out as the most emblematic. These objects feature a square exterior surrounding a circular inner hollow, with each corner serving as a vertical axis for the carving of symmetrical mask motifs. Early examples are typically squat and intricately decorated with deities or animal forms. In contrast, later versions are tall and slender, with stylized facial features dominated by prominent eyes and noses. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 22 March 2022, lot 33 Price: USD 264,600 or approx. EUR 269,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related two-tiered form, manner of carving, mark motifs, and size (5.9 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 19 March 2015, lot 470 Price: USD 60,000 or approx. EUR 74,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related two-tiered form, manner of carving, mask motifs, and stone. Note the similar size (6.5 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 29 May 2024, lot 341 Price: HKD 613,600 or approx. EUR 71,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related two-tiered form, manner of carving, mark motifs, and size (5.1 cm).

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