Description:

Northeast China, Hongshan culture, Neolithic Period, ca. 3800 to 2700 BCE. A beautiful figural pendant, expertly carved from a piece of translucent quartz crystal of golden hues to represent a kneeling nude female, perhaps a mythical tutelary or fertility figure, with very large, pendulous breasts, and a tranquil visage comprised of incised elegantly angled eyes, nose and mouth, and a coiffure on the verso to her shoulders. She is perforated at the nape of her neck and both elbows for suspension and/or attachment. Tutelary spirits are community deities of creation and nature traditionally believed to serve as guides with divine power, symbols associated with villages populated by particular surnames and ancestry. Size: 1.365" W x 3" H (3.5 cm x 7.6 cm)

For many years, scholars believed that Chinese civilization began in the Yellow River valley, but now we know that there were actually earlier cultures both north and south of this region. The Hongshan culture, comprised of a group of Neolithic peoples who lived in the far northeast, in what is modern-day Liaoning province and Inner Mongolia, created a sophisticated society and erected elaborate ceremonial sites that oftentimes included valuable works like this rock crystal female fertility pendant.

Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#122689

  • Condition: Choice. Gorgeous translucency and nice mineral deposits.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

May 18, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000