Lot 57A
East Asia, China, Warring States to Han Dynasty period, ca. 3rd century BCE. A marvelous stone bi disc of a flat annular form, painstakingly incised with hundreds of petite rectilinear spiral motifs. One side of the disc slants towards the wide opening at the center. The "bi" disk originated with Chinas Liangzhu culture between 3,000 and 2,500 B.C.E. Although their exact purpose and significance remain unclear, these disks continued to play a role in rituals as late as the Han dynasty (206 B.C.A.D. 220). During this period, stone disks were used in aristocratic burials, placed above the head, beneath the feet, and on the chest of the deceased. They also appeared in painted burial shrouds from the second century B.C., often depicted with two dragons weaving through the disk, symbolizing a journey from the underworld to the heavens. This imagery suggests the disks might have been intended to assist the souls ascent to the celestial realm. Size: 0.25" W x 11.25" Diameter (0.6 cm x 28.6 cm); 12.5" H (31.8 cm) on included custom stand.
While it is uncertain if this function applied during Neolithic times, the immense effort devoted to crafting these objects with precise shapes and polished surfaces highlights the deep respect and ceremonial importance they held.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection acquired in New York, 2004
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#191082
- Condition: Some minor nicks and scratches, but otherwise, intact and in overall excellent condition. Nice preservation of incised detail.
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