ARCHAISTIC PLAQUE. Jade. China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period, late 18th century
This small ornamental plaque shares many features with the following one, in terms of shape and design: here, however, the decorative patterns executed in low relief on the surface of the jade are much more refined and accurate than in the following example. Though un-inscribed, both plaques can be dated to the Qianlong period, given the type of design, the execution of the work and their resemblance with similar, dated jades. While the shape of both plaques is derived from the archaic small axes or tablets of the type illustrated in no. 10, the decoration is inspired by the iconography of the ancient Shang dynasty bronzes and by the dragons carved on the jades of the early Eastern Zhou period. Actually, the jade is most probably an ancient small blade or chisel which was re-worked in the late 18th century by a carver who added the decorative motifs, the same on both sides of the object. The shape and features of the small blade are in fact consistent with those seen on similar archaic artefacts: there is a hole drilled in the top section and along the axis of symmetry of the object; the sides almost imperceptibly widen towards the cutting edge, which is bevelled and slightly asymmetrical, as is one of the top corners of the object. The heavy alteration which has affected part of the jade turning its semi translucent green colour into an opaque white, is definitively old and of the type often seen on jades which have been buried for a long time. The decoration consists in a taotie mask carved in the bottom section of the jade, near the border: the animal mask is very detailed, with large, slanting eyes, nose, nostrils and the open mouth. The mask is topped by a rhomboidal and pointed pattern which recalls the headdress-shaped jades of the Liangzhu culture, above which two symmetrical, curvilinear motif may stand for the taotie horns. The top section of the jade is decorated with four dragons’ heads in profile, similar to those frequently seen on Eastern Zhou jades. The dragons merge with the regular, geometric pattern made of squared spirals which is carved along the border of the jade. From an old private Austrian collection
Expertise: Univ. Prov. Dr. Filippo Salviati