Description:

China, possibly Han Dynasty or later, ca. 221 BCE onward. This is a pair of white stone discs -- one with a marbled appearance -- that look similar to bi, a type of circular jade artifact from Neolithic and later China. These were flat discs, almost always made of jade, with circular holes in the center; the Neolithic ones are undecorated but Shang and Zhou examples are ornately decorated. Later, they were produced in non-jade materials and this may be one of those. Their purpose is unknown, although they may be associated with ancient Chinese cosmology and were probably a sign of wealth. Their wear and obvious signs of encrustation give credence to them being quite old; however, as they represent an artifact class that was produced over a long period of time, they are very difficult to date. Together, they make a beautiful display piece. Comes with custom stand. Size of largest: 4.75" W (12.1 cm)

Provenance: Ex-J. Connell Collection

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#100866

  • Condition: Both have wear and dirt encrustation; however, both are in excellent condition.

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June 22, 2016 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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