Lot Essay
A slightly smaller cong of similar blackish-brown stone, but carved with only one mask register, is in the Winthrop Collection, illustrated by Loehr, Ancient Chinese Jades, 1975, no. 235
Details
A RARE LARGE MOTTLED BLACKISH-BROWN JADE CONG
NEOLITHIC, LIANGZHU CULTURE, 3RD MILLENIUM B.C.
The thick-walled cylinder with squared, projecting corners divided into two registers, each carved with a rudimentary mask formed by two long horizontal bands above a shorter band with rounded ends and a pair of incised circular eyes, the latter now only faintly visible as is the finely incised decoration on the bands, the mottled blackish stone with areas of buff calcification, some restoration--4 3/8 in. (11cm.) square
NEOLITHIC, LIANGZHU CULTURE, 3RD MILLENIUM B.C.
The thick-walled cylinder with squared, projecting corners divided into two registers, each carved with a rudimentary mask formed by two long horizontal bands above a shorter band with rounded ends and a pair of incised circular eyes, the latter now only faintly visible as is the finely incised decoration on the bands, the mottled blackish stone with areas of buff calcification, some restoration--4 3/8 in. (11cm.) square