East Asia, China, Neolithic Period, Liangzhu culture, ca. 3200 to 1800 BCE. A beautifully colored Chinese bi disc, meticulously hand-carved from a mesmerizing opaque white nephrite with natural carnelian red, grey, and black inclusions. The bi disc is characteristically round with a wide central aperture drilled through both sides which retains some faint cutting marks on the interior rim, and presents an overall smooth finish. The fact that this disc is undecorated confirms that it is from the Neolithic period; later examples, such as those from the Zhou Dynasties were carved with relief sculptures representing celestial deities. Size: 6.25" W (15.9 cm); 7.95" H (20.2 cm) on included custom stand.
Yu, the Chinese word for jade, is also an idea - of a steadfastness, and reliability, mirrored in the abrasion techniques required to make these intricate works of art. Yu is also not bound by the mineralogical definition of jade - over the millennia that it has been carved in China, the people have had varying access to sources of jade and nephrite - but is rather a wider term for hard stone, much of it white, red, and black, like this piece. Bi discs were traditionally used by shamans, the spiritual leaders and transmitters of cosmological knowledge of the Liangzhu society. Their circular form has prompted scholars to link bi discs to symbolism associated with earth and heaven. From the Neolithic period forward, bi discs were buried with the dead, often broken or placed ceremonially on the body, usually near the stomach or chest, in high status burials. They also seem to have been used in life for rituals. The level of craftsmanship speaks to how highly valued this striking piece of sacred art was.
Provenance: private Glendale, Arizona, USA collection, collected from 1970 to 2000
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#152350
Condition
Very light surface wear commensurate with age. Small areas of deposits, mainly inside the interior ring. Overall in excellent condition.