Lot Essay
Compare the stone 'stepped adze' excavated from Fuquanshan, Qingpu county, included in the exhibition, Gems of Liangzhu Culture from the Shanghai Museum, Hong Kong, 1992, Catalogue, no. 11
Details
FOUR JADE AND STONE BLADES
NEOLITHIC/SHANG DYNASTY
One a thick, finely mottled black and white stone chopper with large oval aperture; one an axe head (possibly moss agate) of tapering rectangular form with a single biconical hole at one end, with concentric bands of color shading from pale grayish-brown to a band of dark brown inclusions, a pale grayish-olive band and then an opaque outer band of buff color where the stone has been altered in burial; the third a tapering rectangular blade fragement drilled with three biconical holes in one corner and of mottled brown and russet tone, the hardstone (possibly agate) now partially altered; the fourth a pale gray stone, 'stepped' adze with straight-cut edges and satin-like polish, the narrower end drilled with a conical hole and cut with a deep bevel or 'step' on one side where the stone has not been polished (chips)
3 7/8, 4 3/8, 3¾ and 4 3/8in. (9.8, 11.1, 9.5 and 11.1cm.) long, fitted box (4)
NEOLITHIC/SHANG DYNASTY
One a thick, finely mottled black and white stone chopper with large oval aperture; one an axe head (possibly moss agate) of tapering rectangular form with a single biconical hole at one end, with concentric bands of color shading from pale grayish-brown to a band of dark brown inclusions, a pale grayish-olive band and then an opaque outer band of buff color where the stone has been altered in burial; the third a tapering rectangular blade fragement drilled with three biconical holes in one corner and of mottled brown and russet tone, the hardstone (possibly agate) now partially altered; the fourth a pale gray stone, 'stepped' adze with straight-cut edges and satin-like polish, the narrower end drilled with a conical hole and cut with a deep bevel or 'step' on one side where the stone has not been polished (chips)
3 7/8, 4 3/8, 3¾ and 4 3/8in. (9.8, 11.1, 9.5 and 11.1cm.) long, fitted box (4)