Late Neolithic period, Liangzhu culture,
ca.3300-2200 BC
This peculiar type of jade is further proof of the
sophisticated level reached by Liangzhu craftsmen in the
creation of unique shapes decorated with the utmost
care. By virtue of their peculiar shape, these small
ornaments are usually referred to in the Chinese literature
as “awl-shaped objects”. They can be regarded as being
essentially another variation of the cong form, as the
ornaments have a squared section and the external
surface is decorated with tiny renderings of the humanlike
mask customarily seen on Liangzhu jades. In this
case, and given the reduced dimensions of the items,
the mask is limited to its essential features: the small
circles standing for the eyes and the slightly raised bands
recalling the mouth and headdress of the humanoid
figure. The extremities of each ornament are shaped
differently: one is sharp and pointed while the other
has a small protrusion drilled with a hole, probably for
suspension or to secure the object to something else.
The exact function of these ornaments is not completely
clear. In the tombs of the Liangzhu culture they usually
occur in groups and are of varying size, as the two
presented here. They have been found associated with
other ornamental elements, suggesting they were used
as parts of composite necklaces, as those discovered
in tomb M74 of the Fuquanshan site, Qingpu County,
Shanghai. In addition to the squared appearance, as on
the present examples, these awls-shaped ornaments may
also have a round cross-section, left completely plain or
decorated with the typical Liangzhu mask motifs.
The jade is completely altered: nothing of the original
translucency of the stone is left and the stone has
turned to a chalky white colour. This effect was most
likely artificially induced by exposing the jades to intense
heat which changed the crystalline structure of the
jade. In terms of shape, decoration and alteration of the
stone, these two awls have exact counterparts in those
excavated from the Fanshan and Yaoshan cemeteries
(Yuhang, Zhejiang): see Liangzhu wenhua yuqi, figs.133
to 150 for an ample selection of awl-shaped ornaments
recovered from several Liangzhu culture sites.
LENGTH 8,5 CM and 5 CM
From an Austro-Hungarian collection.
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