China, probably Qija Culture, c. 2200-1600 BC or later. The blade split by a V-shape cut with beveled edges, the axe further detailed with two flanges on either side of the shaft centered by a small circular aperture. The semi-translucent stone of a celadon tone with russet and brown inclusions as well as areas of calcification.

Provenance: Galleria La Balaustra Antichita, Bologna, Italy, 1997. Collection of Paolo Bertuzzi, acquired from the above (invoice not available). Paolo Bertuzzi (1943-2022) was a fashion stylist from Bologna, Italy. He was the son of Enrichetta Bertuzzi, founder of Hettabretz, a noted Italian fashion company with customers such as the Rothschild family, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. Paolo Bertuzzi later took over his mother's business and designed exclusive pieces, some of which were exhibited in the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum in New York, USA. He was also an avid collector of antiques for more than 60 years. His collection includes both archaic and contemporary art, and he edited two important books about Asian art, Goa Made - An Archaeological Discovery, about a large-scale archaeological project carried out together with the Italian and Indonesian governments, and Majapahit, Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Ancient wear, signs of weathering and erosion, small nicks, tiny chips smoothened over time. The jade with natural fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks.

Weight: 445.7 g
Dimensions: Length 24.5 cm