Throckmorton Fine Art
Timed Auction

Liangzhu: Ritual Objects at the Dawn of China’s Jade Age

Thu, May 19, 2022 12:00AM EDT - Fri, Jun 3, 2022 05:00PM EDT
Lot 30

Cong (Ts'ung) Prismatic Cylinder with Abstract Human Face and Animal Mask Engraving, Late Neolithic Period, Liangzhu Culture (3200 - 2300 BCE)

Estimate: $8,000 - $12,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $25
$2,000 $50
$5,000 $100
Jade, H: 4 in. W: 3 in. D: 3 in.

Condition

This small scale sculpture is milky white with hints of green peering through. The structure of this work is that of a squared cylinder with eight identical low-relief panels carved into each of its corners. These corners create a slightly irregular square if viewed from above. The image carved into the individual panels consist of two components. The image on top is that of a human like face characterized by two drilled holes representing eyes, a low relief rounded rectangular shape representing a mouth and three bands above the eyes representing a headdress. The image underneath represents a beast that is being ridden by the humanoid figure above it. The beast's face is is characterized by its oval eye sockets that are open at their bottom edges flowing into the beasts nose ridge. The mouth is a closed, rounded rectangle. The condition of this work is very good and has some scratches, a crack, and weathering. This object DOES NOT have a display base.