Period:Unknown Production date:3300BC-2200BC
Materials:jade
Technique:carved, pierced,
Subjects:animal insect (?) dragon (?)
Dimensions:Height: 4.80 centimetres Width: 8 centimetres
Description:
Archaic jade huang pendant carved with animal face designs.
IMG
![图片[1]-pendant BM-2022-3034.62-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Unknown/Jades/557_.jpg)
Comments:See Keverne 1991 and Hebei 1991-1993. This plaque, decorated on both sides, belongs to the category of Liangzhu jades with the most varied an inventive decoration. Most of the category have three prongs, making shape like the Chinese character for mountain. For this reason they are often called shanxing, qi or mountain shaped jades. Its seems likely that the present plaque originally also had a centre prong. At some stage this may have been damaged and therefore ground down, leaving the present u-shape. The decoration of faces on both sides has been slightly eroded at this upper edge, when the profile of the piece was altered. All such pronged plaques have complex holes for holding them on to something. A large hole pierces the centre and there are two shallow holes, on either side. There are also complex holes for attachment at the upper ends. Here, small holes on the sides lead into slots that are open at the top of the fitting. The profile of the arc is enlivened by relief semicircles that embrace eyes, perhaps representing cicadas. Mou Yongkang has, however, identified these as dragon heads. On both sides of the main part of the arc are monster faces, rendered in incised line with typical features of large oval eyes, a horizontal bar with broad scrolled ends suggesting the nose, and a wider mouth with large fangs. However, the difference between the two sides, the one exploiting relief, the other not, demonstrates the flexibility and ingenuity of the carvers. In addition to the relief heads and the monster faces, the present piece has human-like heads in profile on the upper sections. Although the usual repertoire of faces is used, as with all similar plaques the design is highly individual. Mou Yongkang has pointed out that this combination of designs is unique. All three-pronged plaques are individual. The variations in detail, shape and decoration exploited by carvers to create individual pieces for different patrons or owners are illustrated by the exceptionally fine three-pronged plaques recovered from tombs at Yaoshan. Three-pronged plaques are among the principal decorative jades found in the tombs at Zhejiang Yuhang Yaoshan and Fanshan. All those discovered so far appear to be deliberately distinct from one another, and all carry complex designs, thus indicating their exceptional value. The most distinctive feature of the present plaque is the use of relief faces on the two outer edges. Complex holes both at the centre and at the top reinforce the theory that such plaques were employed with jades of other types, and that all of them were laid over or attached to garments or fittings. See Rawson 1995, pp.141-142, cat.no.5.4.
Materials:jade
Technique:carved, pierced,
Subjects:animal insect (?) dragon (?)
Dimensions:Height: 4.80 centimetres Width: 8 centimetres
Description:
Archaic jade huang pendant carved with animal face designs.
IMG
Comments:See Keverne 1991 and Hebei 1991-1993. This plaque, decorated on both sides, belongs to the category of Liangzhu jades with the most varied an inventive decoration. Most of the category have three prongs, making shape like the Chinese character for mountain. For this reason they are often called shanxing, qi or mountain shaped jades. Its seems likely that the present plaque originally also had a centre prong. At some stage this may have been damaged and therefore ground down, leaving the present u-shape. The decoration of faces on both sides has been slightly eroded at this upper edge, when the profile of the piece was altered. All such pronged plaques have complex holes for holding them on to something. A large hole pierces the centre and there are two shallow holes, on either side. There are also complex holes for attachment at the upper ends. Here, small holes on the sides lead into slots that are open at the top of the fitting. The profile of the arc is enlivened by relief semicircles that embrace eyes, perhaps representing cicadas. Mou Yongkang has, however, identified these as dragon heads. On both sides of the main part of the arc are monster faces, rendered in incised line with typical features of large oval eyes, a horizontal bar with broad scrolled ends suggesting the nose, and a wider mouth with large fangs. However, the difference between the two sides, the one exploiting relief, the other not, demonstrates the flexibility and ingenuity of the carvers. In addition to the relief heads and the monster faces, the present piece has human-like heads in profile on the upper sections. Although the usual repertoire of faces is used, as with all similar plaques the design is highly individual. Mou Yongkang has pointed out that this combination of designs is unique. All three-pronged plaques are individual. The variations in detail, shape and decoration exploited by carvers to create individual pieces for different patrons or owners are illustrated by the exceptionally fine three-pronged plaques recovered from tombs at Yaoshan. Three-pronged plaques are among the principal decorative jades found in the tombs at Zhejiang Yuhang Yaoshan and Fanshan. All those discovered so far appear to be deliberately distinct from one another, and all carry complex designs, thus indicating their exceptional value. The most distinctive feature of the present plaque is the use of relief faces on the two outer edges. Complex holes both at the centre and at the top reinforce the theory that such plaques were employed with jades of other types, and that all of them were laid over or attached to garments or fittings. See Rawson 1995, pp.141-142, cat.no.5.4.
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