Jade pig

[Jade pig]

Jade pig, Han, 2.9 cm high, 11.2 cm long and 2.3 cm wide
Blue jade, slightly green in color. The round sculpture is crouching in the shape of a pig, and its surface is outlined with wide and deep yin lines, which has the typical processing characteristics of “Han Eight Sabres”
Jade pig is a characteristic burial jade in the Han Dynasty. It is commonly found in tombs. It is usually held in pairs in the hands of the dead. Its body is light and plain, and its knife technique is simple and bright. Although rare after the Han Dynasty, the custom of holding objects in the hands of the deceased has been popular. The tomb of the Princess of the State of Chen found in Inner Mongolia shows that in the Liao Dynasty established by the Khitan people, the Princess of the State of Chen and the son-in-law of the State of Chen held amber dragon, phoenix or lotus fish sculptures respectively when they were buried. Jade pigs were occasionally found in tombs of the Ming Dynasty. This shows that the custom of holding objects in the hands of the deceased has a long history and is widely popular among ancient peoples.