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Lot Essay
The present cong is of square cross section surrounding a cylindrically hollowed tube to the centre with rounded square corners, diminishing steadily from top to bottom. The sides are divided into six tiers with a stylised animal mask at each of the four corners, comprising two long bars above a short bar and flanked by two incised circles symbolising the eyes. The cong is perfectly symmetrical and precise, a rare treasure from the middle period of Liangzhu culture.
Compare to a six-tiered cong with similar masks, excavated in Caoxieshan in Jiangsu, now in the Nanjing Museum, illustrated in Liangzhu wenhua yuqi, Hong Kong, 1989, pl. 49 (excavation number: caoxieshanM198II:2) (fig. 1). Compare also to an eleven-tiered cong in the Qing Court Collection, now housed in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Jadeware (I), Hong Kong, 1995, p.37, pl. 32. A seven-tiered example is illustrated in Selected Treasures of Chinese Art-Min Chiu Society Thirtieth Anniversary Exhibition, Hong Kong, 1990, pp.414-415, no.193; and one example from J.J. Lally & Co., illustrated in Ancient Chinese Jade, New York, 2018, no. 24, later sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 9 October 2020, lot 52. Compare with a nine-tiered cong sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, Chinese Archaic Jades from The Yangdetang Collection, 29 November 2017, lot 2710.
The current lot is made with fine material that is slightly translucent with luminous luster. It is a fine example of multitiered jade cong.
Compare to a six-tiered cong with similar masks, excavated in Caoxieshan in Jiangsu, now in the Nanjing Museum, illustrated in Liangzhu wenhua yuqi, Hong Kong, 1989, pl. 49 (excavation number: caoxieshanM198II:2) (fig. 1). Compare also to an eleven-tiered cong in the Qing Court Collection, now housed in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Jadeware (I), Hong Kong, 1995, p.37, pl. 32. A seven-tiered example is illustrated in Selected Treasures of Chinese Art-Min Chiu Society Thirtieth Anniversary Exhibition, Hong Kong, 1990, pp.414-415, no.193; and one example from J.J. Lally & Co., illustrated in Ancient Chinese Jade, New York, 2018, no. 24, later sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 9 October 2020, lot 52. Compare with a nine-tiered cong sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, Chinese Archaic Jades from The Yangdetang Collection, 29 November 2017, lot 2710.
The current lot is made with fine material that is slightly translucent with luminous luster. It is a fine example of multitiered jade cong.