Jade eight halberds and square goblets

[Yuba halberd square Gu]

Yuba halberd square Gu, Ming, 22.7 cm high, 8.1-8.5 cm caliber, 4.9-6 cm foot diameter. The old collection of the Qing Palace
The works are square columns, which are divided into upper, middle and lower parts. The upper part is a skim mouth and a thick neck, and its outer decoration is the deformed cicada pattern and double Kui pattern carved from the internal line, with the same pattern on all sides. The middle part is the belly of the Gu, which is slightly convex on all sides, and is decorated with a deformed cicada pattern, which echoes the decoration of the neck of the Gu. The lower part is symmetrical with the upper part but slightly short, and the upper part is decorated with deformed cicada patterns. There is a square tenon seat under the foot. There is a raised halberd line in the middle of each of the four sides of the Gu. The halberd line is divided into many sections, and each section has a negative line pattern. The four corners of the Gu are decorated with carved scroll-shaped decorations, which are called “halberds”, and those with halberds on four sides and four corners are called “eight halberds”. In the Ming Dynasty, Gu was often used as interior furnishings, and either Ruyi or Bogu pendants were inserted in the Gu.