Six-tier tube (cong 琮) with masks, probably recut

Tall, squared, hollow cylinder of the type ts’ung [cong] 琮; projecting collar at top and base; mottled rich browns, black, and yellowish tan; decoration: channeled and incised, vertical grooves on sides, horizontal notches, ridges, and circles at corners. (Slight surface defects.)

Maker(s)
Artist: Liangzhu culture 良渚 (ca. 3300-ca. 2250 BCE)
Historical period(s)
Late Neolithic period, ca. 3300-2250 BCE
Medium
Jade (nephrite)
Dimensions
H x W x D: 18.8 x 7.7 x 7.8 cm (7 3/8 x 3 1/16 x 3 1/16 in) Diam (hole): 6.9 cm (2 3/4 in)
Geography
China, Lake Tai region
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1916.157
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceremonial Object, Jade
Type

Ceremonial object: cong

Keywords
China, Late Neolithic period (ca. 5000 - ca. 1700 BCE), nephrite
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Tall, squared, hollow cylinder of the type ts’ung [cong] 琮; projecting collar at top and base; mottled rich browns, black, and yellowish tan; decoration: channeled and incised, vertical grooves on sides, horizontal notches, ridges, and circles at corners. (Slight surface defects.)

Published References
  • J. Keith Wilson, Jingmin Zhang. Jades for Life and Death. .
  • Frederick William Gookin. Catalogue of a Loan Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Paintings, Sculptures and Jade Objects from the Collection formed by Charles Lang Freer, and Given by Him to the Nation through the Smithsonian Institution, Exhibition November 15 to December 8, 1917. Exh. cat. Chicago, November 15 - December 8, 1917. No. 101, p. 46.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Jades for Life and Death
Google Cultural Institute
CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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