China, early Bronze Age, Qijia culture, c. 2200-1600 BC

A fine arched blade, with straight cutting edge and a triangularly tapered, narrow handle with one pierced hole. The sides are embellished with four symmetrical notches. The surface is neatly polished and almost lustrous. The celadon hue of the jade is enriched by russet and dark brown inclusions, as well as near black- and cream-colored areas along the border of the cutting edge.

Condition: Very good condition with expected traces of weathering, and tiny notches.
Provenance: The collection of The Zelnik Istvan Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. Dr. Istvan Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe.

Weight: 137 g
Dimensions: Length 21.5 cm

LITERATURE COMPARISON:
Compare to closely related Bronze Age QI blades in 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, by Prof. Filippo Salviati, Nos. 140, 141, pages: 122-123