East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, ca. 19th century CE. A marvelous and massive greenstone cong tube, carved in the tradition of the Liangzhu Dynasty of Neolithic China featuring a towering body of 14 carved tiers. The impressive sculpture displays a cylindrical form with square projections on 4 corners, and each corner presenting a stylized maskette of parallel grooves and circular eyes. Through the center of the funerary stone is a gaping hole drilled from both ends with a slightly offset meeting place. Congs were widely used in funerary rites during the Neolithic era but fell out of favor during the late Shang Dynasty and into the Zhou Dynasty. Size: 4.4" L x 4.6" W x 24.75" H (11.2 cm x 11.7 cm x 62.9 cm)

The funerary function of congs probably had a religious connotation. Some scholars of Chinese Neolithic history and anthropology posit that the cong is "based on the ancient Chinese notion that earth was square and heaven round, while the hole in the object represents the passage connecting heaven and earth." (Weichao, Yu. "A Journey into China's Antiquity - Volume 1: Palaeolithic Age - Spring and Autumn Period." National Museum of Chinese History, Beijing, China, 1997, p. 80)

Provenance: ex-collection of the late Peter Arnovick, San Francisco, California, USA, acquired before 1995

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Some stable natural fissures to stone, as well as nicks, chips, and abrasions, especially to corners. Otherwise, intact with an excellent presentation and rich earthen deposits.