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 4

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

Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $25
$2,000 $50
$5,000 $100
Jade, H: 1 5/8 in. W: 3 in.

Condition

This small scale piece of sculpture is marked by its milky white discoloration which is typical of the jades from the moist climate in the southeastern coastal region of China. The structure of this work is that of a squared cylinder with four identical low-relief panels carved into each of its corners. These corners create a slightly irregular square if viewed from above. The images carved into the individual panels are filled with a human like face characterized by two drilled holes representing eyes, a low relief rounded rectangular shape representing a mouth, three bands above the eyes representing a headdress. The jade is bone white in its altered form and is typical of objects excavated from this region. The condition of this work is good and has some chips, scratches, and surface loss due to the conditions of its interment. This object DOES NOT have a display base.