A JADE AXE, YUE, LIANGZHU CULTURE, C. 3300-2200 BC

A JADE AXE, YUE, LIANGZHU CULTURE, CIRCA 3300-2200 BC
The broad axe flares towards the cutting edge and bears a single hole pierced from both sides. The now opaque and smoothly polished stone is of a mottled buff and pale taupe color with streaks of iron red. One side bears a finely raised engraving of an archaic mask with a pair of incised circular eyes and a simplified mouth formed by a small band with rounded ends.

Expertise: Prof. Filippo Salviati
Provenance: From a private collection. Acquired in Hong Kong prior to 1997.
Condition: Extensive weathering, calcification and weathering. Miniscule losses and areas of erosion.

Weight: 224.7 g
Dimensions: Height 14.8 cm

Auction result comparison: Compare with a related Yue at Christies New York in The Collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth Part III - Chinese Works of Art: Qing Ceramics, Glass and Jade Carvings, 19 March 2015, lot 488, sold for USD $35,000.

玉鉞，良渚文化，約公元前3300-2200
寬斧頭，刀刃張開，並在兩側開有一個單孔。玉石不透明，表面光滑呈淺黃色、淺灰褐色和鐵紅色條紋。 一側帶有一副刻有圓形眼睛的古代面具，精細雕刻，並由帶有圓形末端的小帶子形成的嘴。

來源：私人收藏。1997年前購於香港。
品相：廣泛鈣化和風化。微小的損失和侵蝕區域。

重量：224.7 克
尺寸：高 14.8 厘米