Jade. China, Eastern Zhou, 4th-3rd century BC

Small rings like this one were used in the Eastern Zhou period as elements of pendants made of several different jades, often in combination with beads such as those illustrated in other Lots of this auction.
The decoration consists in clearly defined small spirals in relief with the contour marked through incised lines, arranged in regular rows: this type of motif is the most frequent pattern on discs and rings of the 3rd - 4th centuries BC and continues on the jades carved during the Western Han period (206 a.C. - AD 9).
Though rich in inclusions, the light grey and semi-translucent jade is very fine, though the colour is mostly concealed by extensive surface alteration which creates the effect of a cloudy sky. Two natural fissures in the jade which run across the body of the ring in two different points are highlighted by the oxidised iron, which creates shades of grey and black around the cracks.
Compare a ring of 4.6 cm in diameter and decorated with a similar though more coarsely executed pattern in the Freer/Sackler galleries, Washington, D.C. (object number S1987.709)

玉谷纹瑗 - 东周, 公元前4世纪-前3世纪
直径 5.3厘米
DIAMETER 5.3 CM
From a German collection

This jade will soon be published in the forthcoming jade book by Fillipo Salviati: „THE MYSTERIOUS STONE - Archaic and antique Chinese jades from Neolithic to Han from private collection"
Professor Salviati teaches Chinese Art at the University "La Sapienza" in Rome, Faculty of Oriental Studies, and is one of the world's most recognized jade experts, specialized in archaic jades until the Song Dynasty.
本書中的所有玉器都也出版在："神秘的石头 - 私人收藏的新石器时代到汉代的玉器"
作者：Filippo Salviati

Salviati 教授是羅馬大學中國美術專家，世界上最出名的雕玉藝術專家之一。他的專業是商代一直到宋代的古玉。我會網上的古玉都可以方大，看的到最微小的細節，正如手工，年代，顏色等。