NEOLITHIC/SHANG DYNASTY

Details

A LARGE ARCHAIC DARK SPINACH-GREEN JADE CEREMONIAL BLADE
NEOLITHIC/SHANG DYNASTY
The softly polished mottled dark spinach-green stone thinly carved with square edges and a pair of protruding flanges to either side of the tang, drilled through the centre, the median ridge suggested on one side of the blade, top of blade altered, chips to edges
11.3/8 in. (29cm.) long, fitted box

Provenance

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bull

Literature

Wu Hung, 'Tradition and Innovation, Ancient Chinese Jades in the Gerald Collection', fig.13
Kelley, 'Highlights of the Gerald Godfrey Jade Collection', fig.3

Exhibited

Dayton, Ohio, The Dayton Art Institute, Stones of Virtue, Chinese Jades from the Gerald Godfrey Collection, January, 1989, no.6
San Antonio Museum of Art, 1986
Pasadena, California, Pacific Asia Museum, Chinese Jade, The Image from Within, 1986, catalogue, no.1
Houston, The Museum of Fine Arts, 1990-91
Philadelphia, University Museum, 1962, no.23
Cleveland Museum of Art, 1963
China House, 1967, no.49

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

It is believed that this blade originally terminated with an asymmetrical curved end which was later altered and polished to a straight sharpened edge. The blade is thus nearly identical to an Erlitou period example illustrated by Rawson, Chinese Jade, fig.10:21. The author includes a line drawing plan of a burial as fig.2 and points out that such a blade was placed along the centre of the body indicating the high value of the ceremonial blade as an emblem or regalia.Rawson explains that the ceremonial blade with a curved end was known in various areas in China and Vietnam. The present lot is presumed to have come from Shenmu in Shaanxi. A very similar thin dark blade altered to the same length as this lot is illustrated by Salmony, Archaic Chinese Jades from the Collection of Edward and Louise Sonnenschein pl.XXV111, no.1

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