Ancient East Asia, Northeast China, Hongshan culture, Neolithic Period, ca. 3800 to 2700 BCE. A mottled omphacite jade in the highly stylized bird form favored by the Hongshan people. The bird is portrayed standing, with huge eyes and large wings outstretched and draped to the sides of the body. The feet and tail feathers are also defined by string cut lines. Two perforations through the back join together to form a place that the pendant could be attached or worn. The stone is a lovely dark black-green with mottled lighter hues. Size: 2.75" L x 0.45" W x 2.375" H (7 cm x 1.1 cm x 6 cm)

The Neolithic Hongshan culture is largely known to us from excavations of temples and tombs, many of which contain jade or other stone abstract or animal-shaped objects like this one. The meaning of bird pendants is debated, but many scholars have connected them to heaven - their flight, for example, is seen as a connection between heaven and earth. The evidence for this comes from a set of oracle bones from the slightly later Shang dynasty, which have an inscription that describes the phoenix as the messenger of heaven.

Provenance: private Hidden Valley Lake, California, USA collection, acquired from Proxibid Auctions, Omaha, Nebraska, USA, February 29, 2020, Lot 165

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#170697

Intact with surface pitting and older surface abrasions and nicks with light mineral deposits in recessed areas.