Jade, China. Liangzhu culture, ca. 3300-2200 BC

玉璧。中國，良渚文化，約公元前3300-2200 年。直徑 16.2 厘米, 厚 0.7 - 1厘米。維也納私人舊藏。

Particularly fascinating about this ancient, 4,000 to 5,000 year old bi is the very vivid, powerful image of the grain on both sides. This bi has been polished (almost) completely flat and has an even outside edge. The color varies from black to black-green to red-brown, in between which are a wide variety of white areas due to the piece’s age as well as extremely fine marbling. In an oblique light one can still see traces of the old hand-polishing very well. Also distinctive is the opening in the center, which bears traces of the drilling process, namely, grooves as well as a sharp central burr, since the piece was drilled from both sides. Some of the mineral’s softer areas are rather weathered on one side. The other side – which probably lay protected – is almost untouched. The outer edge also bears some signs of weathering.

Very similar pieces can be found in various publications and collections; for example, a slightly larger bi in the British Museum or an even larger bi (21.7 cm) in the Freer Gallery of Art.

This jade will be published in FILIPPO SALVIATI: “THE MYSTERIOUS STONE: Chinese Jades from the Neolithic to the Han in private collections” (date of publication spring 2017).

Notes by Prof. Salviati: This is an example of the standard medium-sized bi discs of the Liangzhu culture that have an average diameter of 18-21 cm. Discs carved in a similar variety of jade and displaying a similar alteration of the stone have been found in many Liangzhu sites distributed over the whole area of distribution of this late Neolithic culture: Yaoshan (Yuhang, Zhejiang province) , Fuquanshan (Shanghai) and Sidun (Jiangsu province). Some examples of excavated bi discs are illustrated in Zhejiang institute of cultural relics and archaeology 浙江省文物考古研究所, Liangzhu wenhua yuqi 良渚文化玉器 (Jades of the Liangzhu Culture), Wenwu chubanshe, Beijing 1990, pls.72-87. A number of comparable discs in Western collections include three from the Freer/Sackler Galleries, Washington, D.C., two of which come from 19th century Chinese collections before entering that of Charles Lang Free (1854-1919). Their accession numbers are F1919.23, F1919.27 and F1917.353, online images from the Freer database at: http://www.asia.si.edu/collections/edan/object.php?q=fsg_F1919.23 http://www.asia.si.edu/collections/edan/object.php?q=fsg_F1919.27 http://www.asia.si.edu/collections/edan/object.php?q=fsg_F1917.353 See also the two further comparable Liangzhu culture discs from the collection of R. H. Ellsworth (1929-2014), auctioned at Christie’s New York on 19 March 2015 (Sale 11420), Lots 469 and 487: http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-large-mottled-blackish-green-and-buff-opaque-5876526-details.aspx?from=salesummery&intObjectID=5876526&sid=99a72b8d-24b2-40a7-a133-4f2f8791a87e http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-large-opaque-mottled-dark-green-and-5876544-details.aspx?from=salesummery&intObjectID=5876544&sid=99a72b8d-24b2-40a7-a133-4f2f8791a87e

MAX. DIAMETER 16.2 CM, THICKNESS 7 – 10 MM

From the Vera Krassilnikoff collection



Expertise: Wolfmar Zacken (description) & Fillipo Salviati (dating and expertise)