AN EXTREMELY RARE YELLOW AND BROWN JADE DISK (BI), COMPOSED OF THREE SEPARATE CONCENTRIC RINGS (HUAN), WESTERN HAN DYNASTY

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AN EXTREMELY RARE YELLOW AND BROWN JADE DISK (BI), COMPOSED OF THREE SEPARATE CONCENTRIC RINGS (HUAN), WESTERN HAN DYNASTY China, 206 BC-8 AD. Each boldly carved from the same vein of stone, of flattened circular form with a central perforation, of graduated size and conceived to fit concentrically within one another, their surfaces decorated with a geometric pattern of raised hexagonal bosses. The translucent stone is of a pale yellowish-celadon tone, with extensive areas of opaque mineral alteration and darker shading. Dimensions: Diameter 17.8 cm, Height 22.2 cm (incl. stand) With an acrylic stand. (4) Jade bi disks of the Western Han dynasty display considerable technical and decorative ingenuity. Raised bosses, spirals, and geometric ornament were complemented by intricate openwork, producing designs of increasing complexity. The unusual arrangement of concentric rings on the present example is consistent with this tradition of inventive and accomplished jade carving. The jades excavated from the tomb of the King of Nanyue illustrate the breadth of this repertoire, with disks and rings in jade (fig. 1) and other materials (fig. 2). A jade bi with concentric bands of decoration (fig. 3) provides a further relevant compositional parallel. See Peter Y. K. Lam (ed.), Jades from the Tomb of the King of Nanyue, 1991, nos. 97 and 98. The enduring significance of such concentric jade designs is further illustrated by their modern reinterpretation. In 2008, ancient Chinese bi discs provided the principal inspiration for the medals created for the Beijing Olympic Games, in which jade rings were incorporated around the central metal medallions (fig. 4). Literature comparison: Compare a closely related jade ring, huan, dated to the Western Han dynasty, in the Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire, Brussels. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 5 April 2016, lot 27 Price: HKD 1,240,000 or approx. EUR 163,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related concentrical form, manner of carving, and color of the stone. Note the smaller size (10.1 cm).

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