Disk (bi 璧) with knobs

Perforated disk of the type pi [bi] 璧; bored from both sides, leaving slight median ridge; richly mottled olive greens and tan to golden browns with scattered, lighter, translucent strata, small blackish area near rim on one side only; profuse delicate veinings with earth incrustations; decoration: grain pattern in form of semi circular knobs in high relief between plain beveled margins.

Acquired with a box, now lost.

Maker(s)
Artist: Liangzhu culture 良渚 (ca. 3300-ca. 2250 BCE)
Historical period(s)
Late Neolithic period, reworked and decorated in late Eastern Zhou dynasty, Warring States period, or Qing dynasty, 3300-2250 BCE
Medium
Jade (nephrite)
Dimensions
Diam x D: 16.9 x 1.2 cm (6 5/8 x 1/2 in) Diam (hole): 4.4 cm (1 3/4 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1917.50
On View Location
Freer Gallery 19: Afterlife: Ancient Chinese Jades
Classification(s)
Ceremonial Object, Jade
Type

Ceremonial object: disk (bi)

Keywords
China, Late Neolithic period (ca. 5000 - ca. 1700 BCE), nephrite, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Warring States period (475 - 221 BCE)
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Perforated disk of the type pi [bi] 璧; bored from both sides, leaving slight median ridge; richly mottled olive greens and tan to golden browns with scattered, lighter, translucent strata, small blackish area near rim on one side only; profuse delicate veinings with earth incrustations; decoration: grain pattern in form of semi circular knobs in high relief between plain beveled margins.

Acquired with a box, now lost.

Published References
  • J. Keith Wilson, Jingmin Zhang. Jades for Life and Death. .
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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