Jade hand-axe. China, Neolithic period, c. 3000 BC

Jade hand-axe. China, Neolithic period, c. 3000 BC. photo Ben Janssens Oriental Art

A small jade hand-axe of pebble form. The smoothly rounded stone is carved with a sharp edge to the bottom. The semi-translucent stone is of yellowish green tone with some russet marking to the top. Height : 13.00 cm. Price on application

This small hand-axe represents a tool in its most rudimentary form. The stone is smoothly polished through usage and the pebble-like form fits the hand most comfortably. Although the lack of ornamentation makes it difficult to date this jade axe, simple forms such as this are known to have existed in the earliest part of the Neolithic period. A comparable simple black jade tool is in the collection of Joseph E. Hotung.

Provenance: Private Collection, Hong Kong.

Ben Janssens Oriental Art, 91c Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6JB London - United Kingdom. Tel : +44 (0) 20 7976 1888 - Fax number : +44 (0) 20 7976 2588 - Email address : info@benjanssens.com - Website : http://www.benjanssens.com