A RARE JADE OPENWORK ORNAMENT POSSIBLY XIAJIADIAN CULTURE, INNER MONGOLIA, 2000-1500 BC

finely modelled in the form of a highly stylised scrolling cloud with three small pierced apertures, the softly polished stone of a greenish-celadon colour with calcified areas

The pendant is in overall good condition and well preserved. There is expected calcification and pitting, and very minute nicks to the edges, the largest to a small chip to the lower tip of one arch, as visible in the catalogue illustration. The catalogue illustration is slightly darker than the actual colour of the stone.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The object made from green nephrite containing mottled black dots, in parts has chicken-bone white inclusions. The design is done in hollow carving, and the surface of the object covered with tile grooves and bounded by blade edges. The hooked clouds are modelled in such a way that the bottom of the ornament ends in three pairs of sharp points, forming pairs to each side.

The form of this pendant and surface treatment is strongly reminiscent of the early Neolithic Hongshan culture jades. However, a similar jade 'hooked clouds' pendant excavated from the Xiajiadian Lower Layer Culture site at Dadianzi, Inner Mongolia, and dating some 1500 years after the Hongshan culture (fig.1) is very similar in dimensions and form to the Lui piece. This would either suggest a continuation and innovation of the preceding Hongshan culture during the Xiajiadian culture period, or possibly the preservation of a Hongshan jade during the later Xiajiadian period. For more report on the Xiajiadian excavations see Dadianzi –Xiajiadian xiaceng wenhua yizhi yu mudi fajue baogao [Excavation Report on the Xiajiadian Lower Layer Culture Archaeological Site and Cemetery], Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, 1998, p. 172, fig. 83:2 and pl. 52:3.