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Jade Division
Image Code
JD01 |
Catalogue No.: JD01
Description: Chinese Jade Ritual Hatchet
Celt/Tablet (Chen Kuei). Chou-Qin Dynasties (1027-207 BC). Superb mutton fat
jade chen kuei or tablet of power as a symbol of imperial sovereignty and
probably connected with an ancient form of solar worship. Such pieces were
thought to share in the quality of sunlight to dispel darkness and demons,
and were efficient weapons in warding off from the dead all evil and demonic
influences. Kansu Province, China.
Size: 97 X 62mm. |
Image Code
JD02 |
Catalogue No.: JD02
Description: Chinese Jade Girdle Ornament (Kueh).
Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). Superb early half-ring girdle ornament (kueh)
featuring carved phoenix birds of which it was said "feathers, wings, crest
and beak were filled with life's motion (sheng tung)". Such objects worn
suspended from the girdle of dignitaries were said to make known one's
intention and display one's abilities. He who was able to decide questions
of aversion and doubt, was considered worthy of wearing a half-ring girdle
ornament.
Size: 73 X 26mm. |
Image Code
JD03 |
Catalogue No.: JD03
Description: Magnificent mottled brown / green
jadeite hair ring of rounded everted form, as carved from one piece of stone
and with incised and polished decoration together with matching pin. The
piece is reported to emanate from a late Ming Dynasty tomb in Northern
China.
Size: 100 X 47mm. |
Image Code
JD04 |
Catalogue No.: JD04
Description: Chinese Jade Servant Figurine.
Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 9 AD). Highly stylised jade peg-like figurine,
one of a number of such pieces recovered from a Western Han tomb likely
representing servants intended to perform work on the behalf of the deceased
in the afterlife. Jadeite.
Size: 121 X 24mm. |
Image Code
JD05 |
Catalogue No.: JD05
Description: Impressive jade carving depicting two
dragons or hydra flanking a ritual celt / tablet, possibly a late 19th /
early 20th century piece in the style of an earlier period.
Size: 48 X 71mm. |
Image Code
JD06 |
Catalogue No.: JD06
Description: Chinese Jade Servant Figurine.
Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 9 AD). Highly stylised jade peg-like figurine,
one of a number of such pieces recovered from a Western Han tomb likely
representing servants intended to perform work on the behalf of the deceased
in the afterlife. Jadeite.
Size: 104 X 24mm. |
Image Code
JD07 |
Catalogue No.: JD07
Description: Chinese Jade Fingernail. Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644).
Size: 79 X 18mm. |
Image Code
JD08 |
Catalogue No.: JD08
Description: Early jade carving in the style of a
Pi disk with a depiction of a dragon or hydra as a ring.
Size: 75 X 73mm. |
Image Code
JD09 |
Catalogue No.: JD09
Description: Carved jade plaque, probably late
19th century.
Size: 67 X 45mm. |
Image Code
JD10 |
Catalogue No.: JD10
Description: Chinese carved jade disk, Pi or Bi in
a mottled green / brown jade, Han period, c. 200 BC - 200 AD.
Size: 65 X 52mm. |
Image Code
JD11 |
Catalogue No.: JD11
Description: Chinese carved jade Neolithic mask.
Exceptional early piece carved in the form of an animal mask in plaque-like
abstraction with the two eyes and nostrils hollowed in the round with a
further piercing for suspension. The piece might possibly have formed part
of a composition or an important element of a belt and is probably an
earlier form of such representation in the Hongshan Culture. The animal mask
constitutes a dominant motif in Shang ritual bronzes and its origin, meaning
and function have long been a focus of scholarly enquiry. The discovery of
jades and stone carvings of the Liangzhu culture carved with animal motifs
has lead some scholars to trace the origin of Shang animal masks back to the
Liangzhu culture of the lower Yangzi River delta, but animal masks appear
amongst other prehistoric groups as well, including the Hongshan Culture,
and it is likely the later form of the motif drew inspiration from various
sources in ancient China. Hongshan Culture, c. 4700 - 2920 BC.
Size: 300 X 160mm. |
Image Code
JD12 |
Catalogue No.: JD12
Description: Chinese carved jade ring. Of
exceptional style, the piece polished all over and decorated with incised
carving in the form of a one line continual spiral, a true marvel of ancient
ingenuity. Western Han Dynasty, c. 200 BC.
Size: 170mm dia. |
Image Code
JD13 |
Catalogue No.: JD13
Description: Ancient Chinese carved jade plaque of
polished rounded form but relatively flat and thin in cross-section, the
plaque perhaps a stylised anthropomorphic representation from the tomb of
what would have constituted the highest level in the hierarchy or grave form
or its time. Hongshan Culture c. 4700 - 2920 BC.
Size: 200 X 90mm. |
Image Code
JD14 |
Catalogue No.: JD14
Description: Ancient Chinese jade carving of
exquisite detail, carved as a representation of two birds, back to back and
with a central piercing to the middle. The piece is said to originate from a
tomb of an adult male, obviously constituting the highest level of hierarchy
of grave forms, for the quality of this object. Hongshan Culture c. 4700 -
2920 BC.
Size: 230 X 95mm. |
Image Code
JD15 |
Catalogue No.: JD15
Description: Chinese Neolithic Jade Pi disk.
Exceptional early disk with very thin tapered edges, lending to a degree of
translucence.
Size: 208mm dia. |
Image Code
JD16 |
Catalogue No.: JD16
Description: Han Dynasty mottled red jade carving
of a dragon. Western Han, c. 200 BC.
Size: 76 X 62mm. |
Image Code
JD17 |
Catalogue No.: JD17
Description: Ancient Chinese Monumental Jade Bi
Disk. Neolithic Period, Liangzhu Culture (3300 – 2200 BC).
The bi is a form of circular jade artefact from Ancient China. The earliest
bi were produced in the Neolithic Period, particularly by the Liangzhu
culture. The original function and significance of the bi are unknown as the
Neolithic cultures have no written history. From these earliest times bi
were buried with the dead, as a sky symbol, accompanying the dead into the
afterworld or sky, thus bearing some significance to the concept of Heaven
for the Chinese. They were placed ceremonially on the body and graves of
persons of high ranking social status and to symbolise the various ranks of
high officials and aristocrats.
Symbolising Heaven, such disks were to become important ritual objects: this
magnificent disk of monumental proportions is extremely rare and would have
been reserved for the tomb of a very high ranking official or aristocrat.
Similar disks of smaller size are known to have been representative of a
symbol of significant wealth, military power and religious authority or
rank.
Jade is the word used in English to translate the Chinese word yu. However,
while the word yu can be used to embrace several types of grey, green, red,
brown and black hard stones, jade has a more restricted use. It is the name
given to two minerals, nephrite and jadeite. Jadeite, found in Burma, was
unknown in China before the 18th century. Nephrite is today found in Chinese
central Asia, in the province of Xinjiang, but in most ancient times it may
have come from more sites, now worked out or lost.
Since time immemorial jade had been one of the main articles offered
annually as a tribute to the Emperor of China by “Barbarian” princes of the
borderlands in an endeavour to ensure his protection in case of conflict
with neighbouring tribes, or simply as an object of barter for which silk or
other prized goods were obtainable. The attraction that jade has exercised
through the ages has obviously been due to its exceptional hardness, which
makes it impervious to damage although very difficult to work. On the other
hand its fascination derives from its subdued smooth brilliance which –
according to the prevailing colours – can be suggestive of the deep waters
of the mountain lake or of the mistiness of a distant summit.
The same Chinese character “Yu” which stands for jade has also the meaning
of jewel or treasure. Moreover, the stone has always been credited with
certain healing properties, in particular, by simple contact with the skin
it was supposed to ward off kidney diseases to ensure regular urinary
functions.
In the Neolithic Age, even before the discovery of metals, the carving of
jade was current in China as archaeologists have proved. The technique used
by the Chinese craftsmen of the time was admittedly primitive and yet
revealed their innate intelligence and practical inventiveness. The cutting
and shaping of jade was executed by hand with the help of a bone or bamboo
stick, while the surface of the stone was covered with greasy ointment mixed
with abrasive powder made from crushed garnets. Round holes were bored with
a tubular tool made from an animal bone or a bamboo stick cut at a slant and
sharpened with stones. This tube was made to rotate by means of a string
wound around it and kept taut by a wooden bow. The to and fro movement of
the little bow kept the little tube moving while pressure ensured close
contact with the grease that contained the abrasive powder.
With the emergence of bronze implements in the 15th century BC and then of
iron tools almost a thousand years later, the bamboo sticks were of course
replaced by metal tubes. The general method of work however, remained
unaltered; and so it is easy to imagine how agonisingly slow the process of
working this stone was.
Size: 295mm dia. |
Image Code
JD18 |
Catalogue No.: JD18
Description: Ancient Chinese Monumental Jade Bi
Disk. Neolithic Period, Liangzhu Culture (3300 – 2200 BC).
The bi is a form of circular jade artefact from Ancient China. The earliest
bi were produced in the Neolithic Period, particularly by the Liangzhu
culture. The original function and significance of the bi are unknown as the
Neolithic cultures have no written history. From these earliest times bi
were buried with the dead, as a sky symbol, accompanying the dead into the
afterworld or sky, thus bearing some significance to the concept of Heaven
for the Chinese. They were placed ceremonially on the body and graves of
persons of high ranking social status and to symbolise the various ranks of
high officials and aristocrats.
Symbolising Heaven, such disks were to become important ritual objects: this
magnificent disk of monumental proportions is extremely rare and would have
been reserved for the tomb of a very high ranking official or aristocrat.
Similar disks of smaller size are known to have been representative of a
symbol of significant wealth, military power and religious authority or
rank.
Jade is the word used in English to translate the Chinese word yu. However,
while the word yu can be used to embrace several types of grey, green, red,
brown and black hard stones, jade has a more restricted use. It is the name
given to two minerals, nephrite and jadeite. Jadeite, found in Burma, was
unknown in China before the 18th century. Nephrite is today found in Chinese
central Asia, in the province of Xinjiang, but in most ancient times it may
have come from more sites, now worked out or lost.
Since time immemorial jade had been one of the main articles offered
annually as a tribute to the Emperor of China by “Barbarian” princes of the
borderlands in an endeavour to ensure his protection in case of conflict
with neighbouring tribes, or simply as an object of barter for which silk or
other prized goods were obtainable. The attraction that jade has exercised
through the ages has obviously been due to its exceptional hardness, which
makes it impervious to damage although very difficult to work. On the other
hand its fascination derives from its subdued smooth brilliance which –
according to the prevailing colours – can be suggestive of the deep waters
of the mountain lake or of the mistiness of a distant summit.
The same Chinese character “Yu” which stands for jade has also the meaning
of jewel or treasure. Moreover, the stone has always been credited with
certain healing properties, in particular, by simple contact with the skin
it was supposed to ward off kidney diseases to ensure regular urinary
functions.
In the Neolithic Age, even before the discovery of metals, the carving of
jade was current in China as archaeologists have proved. The technique used
by the Chinese craftsmen of the time was admittedly primitive and yet
revealed their innate intelligence and practical inventiveness. The cutting
and shaping of jade was executed by hand with the help of a bone or bamboo
stick, while the surface of the stone was covered with greasy ointment mixed
with abrasive powder made from crushed garnets. Round holes were bored with
a tubular tool made from an animal bone or a bamboo stick cut at a slant and
sharpened with stones. This tube was made to rotate by means of a string
wound around it and kept taut by a wooden bow. The to and fro movement of
the little bow kept the little tube moving while pressure ensured close
contact with the grease that contained the abrasive powder.
With the emergence of bronze implements in the 15th century BC and then of
iron tools almost a thousand years later, the bamboo sticks were of course
replaced by metal tubes. The general method of work however, remained
unaltered; and so it is easy to imagine how agonisingly slow the process of
working this stone was.
Size: 740mm dia. |
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