Archaic horse hoof shaped carved jade hair ornament.

H. 6 1/2 in.

Note: A larger ornament of this form, in the British Museum, London, is illustrated in Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jades from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, pl. 1:2, where the author notes that although the exact function of this type of ornament is a matter of speculation, they are commonly found in tombs near the head of the occupant, hence they may have served as hair ornaments, p. 116.

Provenance: A Columbus, Ohio Collection, Purchased c. 1990.