5,000 Year Old Chinese 3-Tier Jade Heaven & Earth Co (06/13/2011)...

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5,000 Year Old Chinese 3-Tier Jade Heaven & Earth Cong!

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5,000 Year Old Chinese 3-Tier Jade Heaven & Earth Cong!

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Sold Date: 06/13/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

Houghton USA

Ancient Art, Antiques, & Fine Collectables

Ancient Chinese Jade Heaven & Earth "Cong"

est. Liangzhu Culture (3500 BC--2100 BC)

Over 5,000 Years Old!!

This pure Nephrite Jade " Cong " is a Museum quality example of early Chinese art and culture from the Neolithic Period. Chinese experts date this amazing portal to the Heavens to the workmanship, carving style, and genre of the the Liangzhu Culture (3500 BC--2100 BC) in ancient China! The time period is approximate, as it is difficult to precisely date ancient jade artifacts when they have been separated from other artifacts. I obtained it directly from a dealer in Hong Kong, China, and I Guarantee it to be 100% original and authentic.

This large Cong measures approximately 3.78" long x 1.85" square and weighs approximately 423 grams or 14.9 ozs. The Cong is an ancient Chinese ritual jade object that is square on the outside with a hole drilled through its center. Experts believe that the Cong was a symbolic representation of Earth (the 4 square sides of the Cong ) and Heaven (reprented by the hole in the center).

This Cong is composed of 3 tiers that have engraved lines on each corner of the jade and 2 eyes on each level or three pairs of eyes on each side of the Cong--please see photos. The eyes are those of a mythical Spirit Monster called a Taotie that would scare away evil spirits. The eyes were cut using ancient hand drills that used powdered jade as the abrasive and are period correct and match perfectly the examples on display at the Smithsonian's Freer & Sackler Gallery website.

The center hole has been hand drilled from both sides using ancient drills and there is a ridge in the center of the Cong where the two sides didn't exactly meet perfectly. Again, this is another sign of an original Cong and NOT some modern reproduction that used a diamond tipped drilled and power drill to make the hole in seconds rather than weeks of hand work with ancient tools. It is Extremely RARE to find a Cong in this condition

This Cong is 100% original and authentic--I Guarantee it or your money back!

It has a wonderful, old, patina and shows signs of excessive weathering and color change from the original green of nephrite to a green/tan color from the iron in from the surrounding soil that is was exposed to for over 5,000 years. This is completely normal and is another sign of its 5,000 year-old age. Close examination with a 80x microscope under natural and black light reveal it to be 100% authentic. Please look at the photos yourself and you will see the authentic details of this piece.

This is an especially large Cong , and I would suggest that it would have been made for a person of considerable wealth and power. The detailed carving in this jade Cong and its very old style make it quite Rare and Highly Collectable ! I have owned and sold several authentic Congs over the years, but this is the nicest one I have ever had the pleasure of owning--and now it can be yours.

It is a wonderful piece and would look great displayed next to your other fine ancient Chinese jade and bronze pieces!

I hate to sell this one, as it is currently in my personal collection, but economic times are tough and I must do so.

Please examine the photos taken at 4x macro carefully as they are part of the description.

The stand is not included in this auction.

And please ask any questions before you buy. Thanks!

Each object I sell is professionally researched, translated (if I can...(smile), and compared with similar objects in the collections of the finest museums in the world. I have been dealing in fine antiquities for over 45 years and although certainly not an expert in every field, I have been honored to appraise, buy, collect, and enjoy and recently sell some of the finest ancient art in the world. When in doubt, I have worked with dozens of subject matter experts to determine the condition and a...