AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE 60 CM LONG CEREMONIAL BLADE IN THE SHAPE OF A LARGE KNIFE WITH SEVEN FASTENING HOLES CARVED FROM A BRILLIANT GREEN VARIETY OF JADE - photo 1

AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE 60 CM LONG CEREMONIAL BLADE IN THE SHAPE OF A LARGE KNIFE WITH SEVEN FASTENING HOLES CARVED FROM A BRILLIANT GREEN VARIETY OF JADE

Lot 15
29.09.2017 16:00UTC +01:00
Classic
Starting price
€ 3 500
AuctioneerGalerie Zacke
Event locationAustria, Wien
Buyer Premium27.000%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 7353
Lot 15 | AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE 60 CM LONG CEREMONIAL BLADE IN THE SHAPE OF A LARGE KNIFE WITH SEVEN FASTENING HOLES CARVED FROM A BRILLIANT GREEN VARIETY OF JADE
Estimate value
€ 7 000
Jade. China, Early Bronze Age, Qijia culture, c.2200-1600 BC
罕見七孔大玉刀, 青銅時代早期,齊家文化, 約公元前2200-1600年C

LENGTH 61.6 CM
長 61.6 厘米

This impressively large and exceptionally rare dao刀, or knife-shaped blade, is carved from a brilliant, semi-translucent green jade. It is roughly trapezoidal in shape, with slightly sloping short sides. The straight and thicker top has seven equidistant, slightly conical holes that were drilled from one side only, while the cutting edge is sharper and not completely straight: the almost imperceptible undulations show that the blade was crafted by hand.

The marble-like pattern on the surfaces of the jade is created by a natural mixture of different hues of green, with some blacker parts and speckles, a splattering of orange and some veins of lighter green: one striation runs vertically down the jade, from approximately the third hole to the last one, where it divides. There are some nicks and additional broken sections that can be found along the top edge.

Literature comparison/Archaeological sites: Large ceremonial blades such as this one were one of the main symbols of authority in the transitional period between the late Neolithic and the early Bronze Age. Their shape is probably derived from harvesting or reaping tools in stone, but the fact that these blades were carved in jade indicates their ritual, non-utilitarian function. On the basis of the quality of the material and workmanship, the blade can be assigned to the Qijia culture, which flourished in north-western China. However, the shape was likely derived from the neighbouring, contemporary Erlitou culture located in Henan province. In fact, the closest matching example to this blade is a famous jade knife excavated at Erlitou, which has a length of 65.2 CM and seven holes drilled along the top edge (see J. Rawson, Chinese Jade. From the Neolithic to the Qing, London 1995, fig.2 p.184).

This jade is published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Vienna 2017, no.134.

Expertise: Prof. Dr. Filippo Salviati

From an Italian collection 義大利舊藏

All jades in this catalogue have been professionally examined, authenticated and described by Prof. Fillipo Salviati. Professor Salviati teaches Chinese and Korean art at Sapienza University in Rome, in the Italian Institute of Oriental Studies. He is a world expert on archaic Chinese jades, having released multiple publications and being cited by renowned auction houses such as Sotheby’s.
Address of auction Galerie Zacke
Mariahilferstrasse 112
1070 Wien
Austria
Preview
26.09.2017 – 28.09.2017
Phone +00 4315-320 452
Fax +43-1-5320452-20
Email
KS.YTQSJ@YQGOOF@
Buyer Premium 27.000
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 13:00 – 18:00   
Tu 13:00 – 18:00   
We 13:00 – 18:00   
Th 13:00 – 18:00   
Fr 13:00 – 18:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.
?>