FÜR DIE AUKTION ARCHAISCHE UND ANTIKE JADEN AUS CHINA, JAK0917 AM FREITAG 29. SEPTEMBER 2017 UM UHR VERSAND DURCH GALERIE ZACKE TEL

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1 KAUFAUFTRAG FÜR DIE AUKTION ARCHAISCHE UND ANTIKE JADEN AUS CHINA, JAK0917 AM FREITAG 29. SEPTEMBER 2017 UM UHR NR. TITEL GEBOT (ANKAUFSLIMIT) IN EURO BITTE ERHÖHEN SIE MEIN KAUFGEBOT WENN NÖTIG UM EINEN BIETSCHRITT (CA. 10%) TEL VERSAND DURCH GALERIE ZACKE SELBSTABHOLUNG VERSANDMODALITÄT WIRD ERST BEKANNTGEGEBEN ERSUCHE UM ANRUF, WENN BEREITS EIN HÖHERES SCHRIFTLICHES GEBOT VORLIEGT Jedes Gebot (Ankaufslimit) muss mindestens in Höhe des Rufpreises liegen und wird - sofern höher - nur ausgeschöpft, wenn es einen Gegenbieter gibt. Alle abgegebenen Gebote verstehen sich zuzüglich dem Aufgeld. Telefonische Gebote: Siehe Seite 7. ZAHLUNGS-, VERSAND- UND ABHOLMODALITÄTEN: NAME MIT DER ABGABE MEINES GEBOTES ERKLÄRE ICH MICH MIT DEN AGB DER GALERIE ZACKE EINVERSTANDEN ADRESSE DATUM/UNTERSCHRIFT PLZ/ORT TEL/FAX NACHNAHME (POSTVERSAND) NUR BIS ZU EINEM WERT VON EUR 350, BEZAHLUNG BEI SELBSTABHOLUNG IN BAR, MIT SCHECK ODER KREDITKARTE RECHNUNG BEZAHLUNG NACH ERHALT DER RECHNUNG - VERSAND NACH ÜBERWEISUNGSEINGANG EXPRESSPAKET-SERVICE ERWÜNSCHT TRANSPORTVERSICHERUNG: BITTE SCHLIESSEN SIE FÜR DIE VON MIR ERSTEIGERTEN GEGENSTÄNDE EINE TRANSPORTVERSICHERUNG ZU DEN DIE»VERSAND- UND TRANSPORTVERSICHERUNG«BETREFFENDEN BEDINGUNGEN AB Galerie Zacke Mariahilferstr. 112, 1070 Wien office@zacke.at Tel +43-(0) Fax +43-(0) NAME KREDITKARTENABBUCHUNG BITTE KREUZEN SIE GEWÜNSCHTE KARTE AN: AMEX DINERS MASTERCARD VISA KARTENNUMMER ABLAUFDATUM SICHERHEITSCODE RÜCKSEITIG Bitte beachten Sie, dass die Galerie Zacke ausschließlich Komissionsware anbietet. Allfällige Reklamationen müssen daher bitte innerhalb von 6 Wochen nach Übernahme ihrer Erwerbung erfolgen ( 10 der Versteigerungsbedingungen). 9 5

2 Versteigerungsbedingungen 1) Die Versteigerung erfolgt nach den Bestimmungen der Geschäftsordnung der GALERIE ZACKE, MARIAHILFERSTR. 112, 1070 WIEN (im folgenden kurz Gesellschaft genannt), sowie nach den der Gewerbeordnung von Die Versteigerung erfolgt kommissionsweise. Der Auktionator ist berechtigt, ausnahmsweise Posten zurückzuziehen, die Versteigerung abweichend von der Reihenfolge der Katalognummern vorzunehmen und Posten gemeinsam auszubieten. Bei Meinungsverschiedenheiten über ein Doppelgebot oder wenn der Auktionator ein Gebot übersehen hat, ist er berechtigt, einen schon erteilten Zuschlag aufzuheben und den Gegenstand weiterzuversteigern. Die dem Text angeschlossenen Zahlen stellen die Meistbot-Erwartung des jeweiligen Experten in EURO dar. Gesteigert wird in der Regel um 10 % des letzten Gebotes. (siehe Auflistung der Bietschritte). 2) Der Zuschlag erfolgt an den Meistbietenden, es sei denn, daß mit dem Einlieferer ein Verkäufervorbehalt vereinbart wurde. Ein solcher Verkäufervorbehalt (auch Limit genannt) stellt eine Preisuntergrenze dar, unter der bestimmte Lote während der Auktion nicht verkauft werden. Dieses Limit wird auf Wunsch bekannt gegeben und kann den unteren Schätzpreis nicht übersteigen. Wird ein Limit (Verkäufervorbehalt) nicht erreicht, erfolgt der Zuschlag an den Meistbieter lediglich unter Vorbehalt. In diesem Fall ist der Meistbieter für die Dauer von 8 (acht) Werktagen an sein Höchstgebot gebunden. Erhält er innerhalb dieser Zeitspanne nicht den endgültigen Zuschlag zu seinem höchsten Gebot, erlischt seine verpflichtende Bindung an dieses Gebot. Für das Wirksamwerden des endgültigen Zuschlags genügt die Versendung einer entsprechenden Verständigung an die vom Meistbieter genannte Adresse innerhalb der genannten Frist von 8 Werktagen. 3) Alle Gegenstände werden differenzbesteuert. Zum erzielten Höchstgebot (= Meistbot) wird ein einheitliches Aufgeld von 22 % zuzüglich der auf dieses Aufgeld entfallenden gesetzlichen Umsatzsteuer von 20 % aufgeschlagen. Das Aufgeld beträgt somit insgesamt 26,4 % vom Meistbot. 4) Bei Verkäufen ins Ausland wird die Umsatzsteuer rückerstattet, wenn der Verkauf in ein Nichtmitgliedsland der Europäischen Union (Drittland) erfolgt, die gesetzlichen Voraussetzungen vorliegen und der Ausfuhrnachweis erbracht ist. Die Umsatzsteuer wird nicht gesondert auf der Rechnung ausgewiesen. 5) Der Ersteher hat den Kaufpreis sofort nach dem Zuschlag zu bezahlen (Meistbot zuzüglich 22 % Aufgeld zuzüglich der auf dieses Aufgeld entfallenden gesetzlichen Umsatzsteuer von 20 %). Die Gesellschaft kann jedoch dem Ersteher den Kaufpreis im Einzelfall ganz oder teilweise stunden. Wird eine Stundung abgelehnt, kann der Zuschlag aufgehoben und der Gegenstand neuerlich ausgeboten werden. Bei Aufhebung des Zuschlags ist die Gesellschaft auch berechtigt, dem Unterbieter den Zuschlag zu dessen letztem Gebot zu erteilen. 6) Im Falle einer ganzen oder teilweisen Stundung ist die Gesellschaft berechtigt, nach Ablauf von 14 Tagen nach Erteilung des Zuschlages Verzugszinsen (12 % p.a.) sowie Lagergebühren (2,4 % vom Meistbot pro begonnenen Monat) zu berechnen. Die Ausfolgung eines ersteigerten Gegenstandes erfolgt ausschließlich nach vollständiger Bezahlung des Kaufpreises einschließlich aller seit dem Zuschlag angefallenen Kosten und Gebühren. 7) Erstandene Gegenstände können vom Käufer je nach Möglichkeit sofort oder nach Schluss der Auktion zu übernommen werden. Die Ausfolgung der vollständig bezahlten Gegenstände erfolgt in unseren Schauräumen in der GALERIE ZACKE, MARIAHILFERSTR. 112, 1070 WIEN. Wird ein gestundeter Kaufpreis nicht innerhalb der festgesetzten Frist bezahlt, ist die Gesellschaft berechtigt, zur Hereinbringung Ihrer Forderung gegen den säumigen Ersteher die Wiederversteigerung des Gegenstandes vorzunehmen. In diesem Fall haftet der säumige Ersteher der Gesellschaft für den gesamten der Gesellschaft durch die Wiederversteigerung entstandenen Entgang an Provision sowie für sämtliche Verzugszinsen und Lagergebühren. 8) Der Gesellschaft steht an allen Sachen des Käufers ein Pfandrecht zu, gleichviel, ob der Käufer sie im Rahmen einer Auktion oder im freien Verkauf erworben hat oder ob diese Sachen auf eine andere Art in die Innehabung der Gesellschaft gelangt sind. Dieses Pfandrecht dient der Sicherung aller gegenwärtigen und künftigen, auch bedingten, befristeten und noch nicht fälligen Forderungen, die der Gesellschaft aus sämtlichen mit dem Käufer abgeschlossenen Rechtsgeschäften zustehen. 9) Die zur Auktion kommenden Gegenstände werden vor den Auktionen zur Besichtigung ausgestellt. Dabei wird die Gesellschaft jedermann Gelegenheit bieten, die Beschaffenheit und den Zustand der ausgestellten Gegenstände zu überprüfen, soweit dies im Rahmen der Ausstellung möglich ist. Jeder Bieter wird als in eigenem Namen auftretend angesehen, es sei denn, er legt eine schriftliche Bestätigung vor, daß er als Vertreter eines namhaft gemachten Geschäftsherrn auftritt. Die Gesellschaft kann Gebote ablehnen; dies gilt insbesondere, wenn ein Bieter, der der Gesellschaft nicht bekannt ist, oder mit dem eine Geschäftsverbindung noch nicht besteht, nicht spätestens bis zum Beginn der Auktion Sicherheit leistet. Ein Anspruch auf Annahme eines Gebotes besteht jedoch grundsätzlich nicht. Wird ein Gebot abgelehnt, so bleibt das vorangegangene Gebot wirksam. 10) Die Sachverständigen der Gesellschaft bewerten und beschreiben die zur Versteigerung übernommenen Gegenstände und bestimmen die Ausrufpreise, sofern im Katalog oder in der Expertise nicht etwas anderes angegeben ist. Angaben über Herstellungstechnik bzw. Material, Erhaltungszustand, Herkunft, Ausführung und Alter eines Gegenstandes beruhen auf den veröffentlichten oder sonst allgemein zugänglichen (wissenschaftlichen) Erkenntnissen, die von den Experten der Gesellschaft mit der gebotenen Sorgfalt und Genauigkeit ermittelt wurden. Die Gesellschaft leistet dem Käufer für die Richtigkeit dieser Eigenschaften Gewähr entsprechend 22 der AGB (Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen der Galerie Zacke) und sofern allfällige diesbezügliche Reklamationen binnen vier Wochen nach ihrer Übernahme erhoben werden. Spätere Reklamationen sind generell ausgeschlossen. Für alle weiteren Angaben in Katalog und Expertise besteht gleichfalls keine Haftung. Das gilt auch für Abbildungen, die sich im Katalog befinden. Diese Abbildungen verfolgen den Zweck, den Kaufinteressenten bei der Vorbesichtigung zu führen. Sie sind weder für den Zustand noch für die Eigenschaften des abgebildeten Gegenstandes maßgebend. Es werden im Katalog und in den Expertisen nur solche Fehler und Beschädigungen angeführt, die den künstlerischen oder kommerziellen Wert wesentlich beeinträchtigen. Reklamationen betreffend den Preis sind nach dem Zuschlag ausgeschlossen. Die Gesellschaft behält sich vor, Katalogangaben vor der Auktion zu berichtigen. Diese Berichtigungen erfolgen entweder durch schriftlichen Aushang am Ort der Auktion oder mündlich durch den Auktionator unmittelbar vor Ausbietung des betreffenden Gegenstandes. Gehaftet wird in diesem Fall nur für die Berichtigung. Sämtliche zur Auktion gelangenden Gegenstände können vor der Auktion geprüft werden. Diese Gegenstände sind gebraucht. Schadenersatzansprüche, die über die vorgenannte Haftung hinausgehen und aus anderen Sach- oder sonstigen Mängeln des Gegenstandes resultieren, sind ausgeschlossen. Mit der Abgabe seines Gebotes bestätigt der Bieter, daß er den Gegenstand vor der Auktion besichtigt und sich der Übereinstimmung mit der Beschreibung vergewissert hat. 11) Ist es einem Kunden nicht möglich, an einer Versteigerung persönlich teilzunehmen, übernimmt die Gesellschaft Kaufaufträge. Diese können schriftlich, per oder per Telefax erteilt werden. Bei telefonisch oder mündlich erteilten Kaufaufträgen behält sich die Gesellschaft vor, die Durchführung von einer schriftlichen, per oder per Telefax übermittelten Bestätigung durch den Auftraggeber abhängig zu machen. Weiters übernimmt die Gesellschaft für die Durchführung von Kaufaufträgen keine Haftung. Kaufaufträge mit gleich hohen Ankaufslimiten werden in der Reihenfolge ihres Einlangens berücksichtigt. Gebote, die nur eine Steigerungsstufe über dem Rufpreis liegen, werden gänzlich ausgeschöpfte Gebote, die nicht den von der Gesellschaft tabellarisch fest bestimmten Steigerungsstufen entsprechen (siehe Bietschritte), werden zur nächst höheren Steigerungsstufe aufgerundet. Die tabellarische Aufstellung dieser Steigerungsstufen kann auf Wunsch übermittelt werden. Bei Loten, die»ohne Limit«versteigert werden, werden Gebote unterhalb des Schätzpreises gänzlich ausgeschöpft. Das schriftliche Gebot (Kaufauftrag) muss den Gegenstand, unter Anführung der Katalognummer und des gebotenen Ankaufslimits, das sich als Zuschlagsbetrag ohne Käuferprovision und ohne Umsatzsteuer versteht, beinhalten. Unklarheiten gehen zu Lasten des Bieters. Ein bereits erteilter Kaufauftrag kann nur storniert werden, wenn der Rücktritt schriftlich mindestens 72 Stunden vor Auktionsbeginn bei der Gesellschaft einlangt. 12) Die Gesellschaft kann die Durchführung von Kaufaufträgen bis zur Ausbietung ohne Angabe von Gründen ablehnen, bzw. von der Leistung einer Anzahlung abhängig machen. Eine solche Anzahlung wird bei einem erfolglosen Auftrag von der Gesellschaft binnen 5 Werktagen zurückerstattet. Die Durchführung von Kaufaufträgen ist kostenlos. 13) Jeder Einbringer ist grundsätzlich berechtigt, die zur Versteigerung übergebenen Gegenstände bis zum Beginn der Auktion zurückzuziehen. Für die tatsächliche Ausbietung kann daher keine Haftung oder Gewähr übernommen werden. 14) Bezahlte Gegenstände müssen innerhalb von 30 Tagen nach Zahlung abgeholt werden. Nicht abgeholte Gegenstände können nach Verstreichen von 30 Tagen ab dem jeweiligen Auktionsdatum ohne weitere Verständigung zu einem um 50 % reduzierten Rufpreis der neuerlichen Versteigerung zugeführt werden. Gegenstände, die nicht innerhalb von 3 (drei) Werktagen nach der Auktion abgeholt werden, oder für die nicht innerhalb von 3 (drei) Werktagen nach der Auktion eine genaue Versandanweisung mit Angabe der Versandart und der Versandadresse (unabhängig von einem allfällig erteilten Kaufauftrag) bei der Gesellschaft einlangt, lagern auf Gefahr des Eigentümers. Die Gesellschaft ist außerdem berechtigt, ersteigerte und bezahlte, aber nicht abgeholte Gegenstände, auf Gefahr und Kosten des Käufers, einschließlich der Kosten für eine Versicherung, bei einer Spedition einzulagern. Es gilt als vereinbart, daß die Bestimmungen über die Wiederversteigerung unbezahlter und bezahlter, aber nicht abgeholter Gegenstände, auch auf jene Gegenstände anzuwenden sind, die nicht in den Räumlichkeiten der Gesellschaft ausgestellt oder gelagert werden. Der Eigentumsübergang erfolgt zum Zeitpunkt der Übergabe des Ausfolgescheines an den Käufer. 15) Bei Konvoluten mit einem Rufpreis von weniger als EURO leistet die Gesellschaft keine Gewähr auf Vollständigkeit bzw. Richtigkeit der Zählung der einzelnen Objekte innerhalb eines Konvolutes. 16) Eine Anmeldung für ein telefonisches Gebot für einen oder mehrere Gegenstände stellt automatisch ein Gebot zum Rufpreis für diese Gegenstände dar. Wenn die Gesellschaft den Bieter telefonisch nicht erreichen sollte, wird sie bei Aufruf des jeweiligen Auktionslotes im Auftrag des telefonischen Bieters bis zum Rufpreis mitsteigern. 17) Irrtümlich (durch Verschulden des Zahlers) erfolgte Zahlungen an die Gesellschaft (z.b. durch falsche Berechnung eines Wechselkurses seitens des Zahlers) oder mehrfach an die Gesellschaft auf die gleiche Rechnung geleistete Zahlungen werden ausschließlich in Form einer zeitlich unbefristeten Warengutschrift ausgeglichen. Eine Rückzahlung solcher Zahlungen in bar ist ausgeschlossen. 18) Bei einzelnen Auktionsloten kann es vorkommen, daß diese mehrfach eingeliefert wurden. In einem solchen Fall kann der Auktionator einen zweiten bzw. einen dritten usw. Zuschlag an den/die Unterbieter erteilen. Bindend hinsichtlich der Gewährleistung (diese Auktionslote betreffend) ist auch hier ausschließlich der Katalogtext und nicht die Katalogabbildung. 19) Mit der Abgabe eines Gebotes, ob persönlich, schriftlich oder telefonisch, erkennt der Bieter diese Versteigerungsbedingungen sowie die AGB (Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen der Galerie Zacke) und den Gebührentarif (in der jeweils gültigen Fassung) der Gesellschaft an. 20) Erfüllungsort des zwischen der Gesellschaft einerseits und dem Verkäufer sowie dem Käufer andererseits zustande kommenden Vertrages ist der Geschäftssitz der Gesellschaft. Die zwischen der Gesellschaft, Verkäufern und Käufern bestehenden Rechtsbeziehungen und Verträge unterliegen österreichischem materiellem Recht. Die Gesellschaft, Verkäufer und Käufer vereinbaren, sämtliche Streitigkeiten aus, über und im Zusammenhang mit diesem Vertrag vor dem in Wien zuständigen Gericht auszutragen. 21) Für die Ausfuhr von Kunstgegenständen aus Österreich ist gegebenenfalls eine Genehmigung des Bundesdenkmalamtes nötig. Über jene Kunstgegenstände, für die eine Ausfuhrgenehmigung voraussichtlich nicht erteilt werden wird, informiert die Gesellschaft mündlich jedenfalls zu Beginn der Auktion. 22) Zacke steht es frei, sämtliche Rechte und Pflichten, die sich aus dem Vertragsverhältnis zwischen Zacke und dem Einbringer ergeben, durch entsprechende Erklärung auf den Kunden und sämtliche Rechte und Pflichten, die sich aus dem Vertragsverhältnis zwischen Zacke und dem Kunden ergeben, durch entsprechende Erklärung auf den Einbringer, jeweils im Sinne einer vollständigen Vertragsübernahme zu übertragen, sodass das Vertragsverhältnis, nach Abgabe dieser Erklärungen durch Zacke ausschließlich zwischen dem Einbringer und dem Kunden besteht, wie dies dem Grundmodell des Kommissionsvertrages entspricht. Kunden wie Einbringer erteilen vorab bereits jetzt ihre Zustimmung zu dieser Vertragsübernahme. 6

3 ABSENTEE BIDDING FORM FOR THE AUCTION ARCHAIC AND ANTIQUE CHINESE JADES, JAK0917 ON FRIDAY 29 TH SEPTEMBER 2017 at 2. PM NO. TITLE BID IN EURO PLEASE RAISE MY PURCHASE BID BY ONE BID STEP (APPROX. 10%) IF NECESSARY TEL PLEASE CALL ME IF THERE IS ALREADY A HIGHER WRITTEN BID Notice: All bids are to be understood plus buyer`s premium (incl. VAT). If you like to bid by telephone please write in the column purchase limit TEL. A bid by telephone shall automatically represent a bid at the starting price for this item. If Galerie Zacke cannot reach the Client during the auction, Galerie Zacke will bid up to the starting price for him. If no one else bids on the corresponding good, then the Client shall automatically receive the winning bid at the starting price. TERMS OF PAYMENT, SHIPPING AND COLLECTION: NAME ADDRESS POSTCODE & CITY With the signature on this form the client declares his consent to aforementioned commissioning of Galerie Zacke. Bids by telephone shall be governed by the AGB (terms and conditions) of Galerie Zacke. The AGB of Galerie Zacke are part of the commissioning of Galerie Zacke by the client. The client agrees with his signature that he has taken note of the AGB (terms and conditions) of Galerie Zacke and that he agrees with them. DATE & SIGNATURE PHONE CASH ON DELIVERY (MAILING) UP TO A VALUE OF 350 ONLY CUSTOMER COLLECTION PAYMENT ON SITE AND IN CASH, BY CHEQUE OR CREDIT CARD INVOICE PAYMENT UPON RECEIPT OF IN- VOICE - SHIPPING UPON RECEIPT OF PAY- MENT DEBIT OF CREDIT CARD PLEASE MARK THE DESIRED CARD WITH A CROSS: AMEX DINERS MASTERCARD VISA NAME CARD NUMBER EXPIRY DATE EXPRESS PARCEL SERVICE REQUIRED TRANSPORT INSURANCE: PLEASE TAKE OUT A TRANSPORT INSURANCE POLICY FOR THE ITEMS I HAVE BOUGHT PURSUANT TO THE TERMS CONCERNING THE "SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT INSURANCE" Galerie Zacke Mariahilferstr. 112, 1070 Vienna office@zacke.at Tel Fax For your information: At its auctions, the Galerie Zacke offers exclusively third-party contributions for sale on commission. We would like to draw your attention to the fact that, in case of any complaints arising from a purchase, these have to be reported to us within 6 weeks after the receipt of the item. 11 7

4 Terms of Auction - 1) The auction shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the rules of procedure of GALLERY ZACKE, MARIAHILFERSTR. 112, 1070 VIENNA (hereinafter referred to as the company) as well as in accordance with sections of the Gewerbeordnung [Industrial Code] The auction shall be carried out on commission. The auctioneer shall be entitled to withdraw lots exceptionally, to conduct out the auction deviating from the order of the catalogue numbers and to offer lots jointly. In the event of any dispute concerning a double bid or if the auctioneer has missed a bid, the auctioneer shall be entitled to revoke acceptance of a bid and to continue auctioning off the item. The figures attached to the text shall be the expected last and highest bid in EURO ( ) from the respective expert. As a rule, the bid shall be increased by 10% of the last bid. (See list of the bidding increments). 2) The acceptance of a bid shall be granted to the highest bidder unless a seller s reserve price has been agreed with the consignor. Such a seller s reservation (also referred to as limit) shall be the minimum price limit below which particular lots shall not be sold during the auction. This limit shall be disclosed upon request and may not exceed the lower estimated price. If a limit (seller s reserve price) is not achieved, the bid of the highest bidder shall be accepted subject to reservations only. In this case, the highest bidder shall be bound to its highest bid for a period of 8 (eight) working days. If the highest bid from the highest bidder is not finally accepted within this period of time, its binding commitment to this bid shall expire. In order for the final acceptance of the bid to become effective, it is sufficient to send a corresponding notification to the address named by the highest bidder within the stated period of 8 working days. 3) All items shall be subject to differential taxation. A uniform surcharge of 22% plus the value added tax applicable to the surcharge to the amount of 20% shall be added to the achieved highest bid (final and highest bid). Thus the surcharge shall be 26.4% of the final and highest bid in total. 4) In the event of sales abroad, the value added tax will be repaid if the item is sold to a country which is not a member country of the European Union (third country), the legal requirements are met and the proof of exportation is provided. The value added tax shall not be shown separately on the invoice. 5) The auction buyer must pay the purchase price immediately upon acceptance of the bid (final and highest bid plus 22% surcharge, plus the value added tax applicable to the surcharge to the amount of 20%). However, the company may grant the auction buyer a respite for the payment of the purchase price in whole or in part in individual cases. If a respite is refused, the acceptance of the bid may be revoked and the item may be reoffered. In the event of revocation of the acceptance of the bid, the company shall be entitled to accept the last bid from the underbidder. 6) In the event of respite in whole or in part, the company shall be entitled to charge default interest (12% p.a.) as well as storage charges (2.4% of the final and highest bid per month commenced) after 14 days upon acceptance of the bid. The item purchased at auction shall be handed over exclusively upon full payment of the purchase price including all costs and charges accrued since the acceptance of the bid. 7) The buyer can take acquired items in possession, as far as possible, immediately or after the end of the auction. Items which have been fully paid for shall be handed over in our show rooms in GALLERY ZACKE, MARIAHILFERSTR. 112, 1070 VIENNA. If a deferred purchase price is not paid within the set period, the company shall be entitled to auction the item again in order to recoup its claim from the defaulting auction buyer. In this case, the defaulting auction buyer shall be liable to the company for the total loss of commission incurred by the company due to the re-auction as well as for any default interest and storage charges. 8) The company shall be entitled to a lien on all items of the buyer irrespective of whether the buyer bought them within the scope of an auction or in free sale or the company secured ownership of these items otherwise. This lien shall serve to secure all current and future, qualified, limited and unmatured claims to which the company is entitled and which result from all legal transactions concluded with the buyer. 9) The items received for auction will be exhibited and may be viewed prior to the auction. In doing so, the company shall give everyone the opportunity to check the nature and the condition of the exhibited items to the extent deemed possible within the scope of the exhibition. Every bidder shall be deemed to act on its own behalf unless it provides a written confirmation saying that it acts as a representative of a well-known principal. The company may refuse bids; this shall particularly apply if a bidder who is unknown to the company or with whom the company has no business connections yet does not provide security by the beginning of the auction at the latest. However, in principle there shall be no claim to accept a bid. If a bid has been refused, the previous bid shall remain effective. 10) The company s experts evaluate and describe the items received for auction and determine the starting prices unless otherwise stated in the catalogue or expert opinion. The information concerning production technique or material, state of preservation, origin, design and age of an item is based on published or otherwise generally accessible (scientific) findings concluded by the company s experts with the necessary care and accuracy. The company shall warrant to the buyer according to 22 of the AGB (General Terms and Conditions) that properties are correct provided that any possible complaints referring to this are made within four weeks upon their taking into possession. Subsequent complaints shall be excluded in principle. The company shall not be liable for any further information in the catalogue and expert opinion as well. This shall also apply to illustrations in the catalogue. The purpose of these illustrations is to guide the potential buyer during the preview. They shall not be authoritative for the condition or the characteristics of the pictured item. The catalogue and the expert opinions shall only mention defects and damage affecting the artistic or commercial value significantly. Complaints concerning the price shall be excluded upon acceptance of the bid. The company reserves the right to amend catalogue information prior to the auction. These amendments shall be made either by a written notice at the place of auction or orally by the auctioneer immediately prior to offering of the respective item. In this case, the company shall be liable for the amendment only. All items offered may be checked prior to the auction. These items are used. Any claims for damages exceeding the liability named above and resulting from other material defects or other defects of the item shall be excluded. When making the bid, the bidder confirms that it has seen the item prior to the auction and has made sure that the item corresponds to the description. 11) ) If a customer is not able to participate in an auction personally, the company shall accept purchase orders. These orders may be placed in writing, via or fax. In the case of a purchase order placed by phone or orally, the company shall reserve the right to make the performance dependent on a confirmation from the principal communicated in writing, via or fax. Furthermore, the company shall not be liable for the performance of purchase orders. Purchase orders with equal top bid limits will be considered in the order of their receipt. Bids which are only one increment above the starting price shall be exhausted totally. Bids which do not correspond to the increments determined by the company (see bidding increments) in tabular form will be rounded up to the next higher increment. The table of these increments can be sent upon request. In the case of lots auctioned without any limits, bids below the estimated price shall be exhausted totally. The written bid (purchase order) must include the item stating the catalogue number and the offered top bid limit which is quoted as the amount of the acceptance of the bid without buyer s commission and without value added tax. Ambiguities shall be carried by the bidder. A purchase order which has already been placed may only be cancelled if the written withdrawal is received by the company at least 72 hours prior to the beginning of the auction. 12) The company may refuse to process a purchase order without explanation until offering or make this dependent on payment of a deposit. In the event of an unsuccessful order, such a deposit will be reimbursed by the company within 5 working days. Processing of purchase orders is free of charge. 13) Every contributor shall in principle be entitled to withdraw the items offered for auction until the start of the auction. Therefore, it is impossible to assume liability or to give warranty for the actual offering. 14) Items paid must be collected within 30 days of payment. Items which have not been collected may be delivered without further communication at a starting price from the recent auction reduced by 50% after 30 days from the respective auction date. Items which have not been collected within 3 (three) working days after the auction or for which the company does not receive any proper shipping instructions stating the type of shipping and the address of dispatch (independent of a possibly placed purchase order) within 3 (three) working days after the auction shall be stored at the owner s risk. Furthermore, the company shall be entitled to store items which have been purchased at auction and paid but not collected at the buyer s risk and expense, including the costs for an insurance, with a forwarding agency. It shall be understood that the provisions concerning the re-auctioning of unpaid and paid but not collected items must also apply to items not exhibited or stored on the premises of the company. The ownership shall be transferred the buyer at the time of handing over the delivery note. 15) In the case of mixed lots with a starting price of less than EUR , the company shall not warrant for the completeness or correctness of the individual items within a mixed lot. 16) A registration for a bid by telephone for one or several items shall automatically represent a bid at the starting price for these items. If the company cannot reach the bidder by telephone, it will bid on behalf of the bidder by phone up to the starting price when the respective auction lot is called. 17) Payments made to the company by mistake (through the payer s fault) (e.g. due to miscalculation of the exchange rate by the payer) or payments made to the company for the same invoice several times shall be compensated in form of a credit note for goods for an indefinite period of time. The repayment of such payments in cash shall be excluded. 18) In the case of individual auction lots, it may happen that they are delivered several times. In such a case, the auctioneer may accept a second or third etc. bid from the underbidder(s). In this case, the text in the catalogue and not the illustration in the catalogue shall also be exclusively binding with regard to the warranty (relating to these auction lots). 19) When making a bid, whether personally, in writing or by telephone, the bidder shall acknowledge these terms of auction, the AGB (General Terms and Conditions) as well as the rules of procedure and the schedule of fees (as amended) of the company. 20) The place of performance of the contract brought about between the company on the one hand and the seller as well as the buyer on the other hand shall be the place of business of the company. The legal relationships and contracts existing between the company, the sellers and the buyers shall be subject to the Austrian substantive law. The company, the sellers and the buyers shall agree to settle all disputes resulting from, concerning and in connection with this contract before the territorially competent court of Vienna. 21) The export of art objects from Austria, when indicated, shall require a permit from the Bundesdenkmalamt [Federal Monuments Office]. In any event, the company shall orally provide information about art objects for which an export permit will probably not be granted at the beginning of the auction. 22) Zacke reserves the right to assign to the customer all rights and obligations resulting from the contractual relationship between Zacke and the contributor by a way of a respective declaration, as well to assign to the contributor all rights and obligations resulting from the contractual relationship between Zacke and the customer by way of a respective declaration, in each case in terms of a complete assignment of contract with the result that the contractual relationship following the submission of the aforementioned declarations by Zacke shall exclusively be between the contributor and the customer, which is in accordance with the basic model of the commission agreement. Customers and contributors shall already now give their explicit consent to this contract assignment. 8

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Our complete general terms and conditions of business can be found on our website Later complaints cannot be considered. All items starting above 1300 EUR are checked by the Art Loss Register. Alle Objekte über Euro wurden von "Art Loss Register"entsprechend geprüft. 8 9

6 1 AN IMPOSING BI DISC WITH A FINE-TEXTURED SURFACE AND MIRROR-LIKE POLISH Late Neolithic, Liangzhu culture, c BC 玉璧 - 新石器時代晚期, 良渚文化, 約公元前 年 This imposing bi 璧 disc has a fine-textured surface and exquisite mirror-like polish. Although the thickness and surfaces are irregular, a common characteristic of Liangzhu culture discs of this size, it is extremely smooth to the touch. One side is rather regular but the other presents undulations and a marked sloping near the border, where the jade sensibly decreases in thickness. The hole has been drilled from both sides, which is evident by the unpolished ridge left in the middle of the perforation. The nephrite jade, typical of Liangzhu culture jades, is a beautiful combination of variegated colors that range from light green, auburn, ochre and darker reddish areas to black, with many striations of swirling white. Jade discs that are comparable in size, manufacture and texture have been found in several Liangzhu culture sites, including Fanshan (Yuhang county, Zhejiang province) and Fuquanshan (Qingpu county, Shanghai): see those reproduced in Zhejiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology 浙江省文物考古研究所, Liangzhu wenhua yuqi 良渚文化玉器 (Jades of the Liangzhu Culture), Wenwu Chubanshe, Beijing 1990, nos.75, 77 and 85. Compare also the Liangzhu culture disc published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.47. From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 DIAMETER 21 CM, DIAMETER OF INNER HOLE 4.4 CM 直徑 21 厘米, 內孔 4.4 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 2.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 5.000,-) 10

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8 2 A FINELY CARVED CONG RITUAL JADE DECORATED WITH SIMPLIFIED HUMAN-LIKE MASKS Late Neolithic, late phase of the Liangzhu culture, c BC 神人紋玉琮 - 新石器時代晚期, 良渚文化晚期, 約公元前 年 This finely carved Liangzhu culture cong 琮 has four registers decorated with simplified anthropomorphic masks, similar to those carved in the registers of the tall cong no.4, in this auction. Each mask, placed within a rectangular register, has eyes marked with small incised circles and a plain band representing the mouth that wraps around the corner of each register. Two bands with finely incised parallel lines, framing a central, undecorated one, are carved on top of each mask: they are a simplified form of the feathered headdress worn by human-like figures in other Liangzhu carvings (see jade no.4 in this auction, where the motif is rendered in full form). At the centre of each side of the cong there is a plain, vertical band that separates the sets of masks carved at the corners. The smooth collar is short, with a slight variation in thickness, especially on one of the ends. The inner circumference is quite round, but rather irregular and almost squared off along the perimeter. The central perforation is polished and there is a thin ridge located about mid-way. The polished jade is of a creamy beige colour, with rust-coloured, greyish, blackish and brownish areas and various striations of white that create an almost marble-like quality. There are two areas along the edge of one of the collars that were broken and smoothed down during the carving process, as well as some nicks and chips on the inside collar, and another rougher area where a corner has broken off. Cong decorated with simplified anthropomorphic masks were predominantly carved during the late phase of the Liangzhu culture and have been found mostly in sites in Jiangsu province. In terms of material, quality of carving and number of registers, this cong can be compared to similar ones from the Sidun (Wuxin county) and Caoxieshan (Wu county) sites, reproduced in Zhejiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology 浙江省文物考古研究所, Liangzhu wenhua yuqi 良渚文化玉器 (Jades of the Liangzhu Culture), Wenwu Chubanshe, Beijing 1990, nos From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 HEIGHT: 10.6 CM, WIDTH: 7.3 CM, DIAMETER OF INNER HOLE: 5.5 CM 高 10.6 厘米, 寬 7.3 厘米, 內孔 5.5 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 4.000,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 8.000,-) 12

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10 3 A SMALL TRAPEZOIDAL GUANGXING OR HEADDRESS-SHAPED FITTING CARVED WITH A DETAILED ANIMAL MASK IN LOW RELIEF Late Neolithic, Liangzhu culture, c BC 小獸面紋冠形玉器 - 新石器時代晚期, 良渚文化, 約公元前 年 This small and unusual looking trapezoidal jade with a carved mask design is one of the jade types that were created exclusively by the Liangzhu culture: it was probably attached to something and worn as a head ornament. Its outline recalls the feathered headdress worn by the human-like figure in other Liangzhu carvings (see no.10 in this auction), as suggested by the overall shape of the fitting and by the indentations on the top border. Just below the arch at the top-centre there is an oblong cut-out area, and below that, an animal mask carved in low relief. The mask is designed with finely incised lines in circular patterns and etched sections: incised spirals and striated bands decorate the large slanting eyes and also fill in the space between them, while the short slightly raised bar below, decorated with additional spirals, stands for the mouth. The front, decorated side, is slightly convex, whereas the back is plain and flat. There is a tenon at the bottom of the object, pierced with three biconical holes that were used to secure the jade fitting onto a support. The jade is opaque and mostly green with rust-coloured patches on the lower left side and on the back. There are also other speckled rust-coloured areas and two noticeable light green parallel streaks on the right side of the face. Most of the jade is covered with a white patina and there is a small chip below the first and second holes of the tenon. Comparable examples from excavations that are similar in shape and with or without a mask carved in the centre are published in Zhejiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology 浙江省文物考古研究所, Liangzhu wenhua yuqi 良渚文化玉器 (Jades of the Liangzhu Culture), Wenwu Chubanshe, Beijing 1990, nos From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 HEIGHT: 4.6 CM, LENGTH: 8.1 CM, WIDTH: 5.5 MM 高 4.6 厘米, 長 8.1 厘米, 寬 5.5 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 2.800,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 5.600,-) 14

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12 4 AN EXTREMELY RARE AND IMPRESSIVE TALL CONG WITH MULTIPLE REGISTERS DECORATED WITH SIMPLIFIED HUMAN-LIKE MASKS Late Neolithic, late phase of the Liangzhu culture, c BC 罕見神人紋多節玉琮精品 - 新石器時代晚期, 良渚文化晚期, 約公元前 年 This extremely rare, tall cong 琮, measures an impressive forty centimetres and is an amazing feat of workmanship. Similar towering cong were crafted in the late phase of the Liangzhu culture and have mostly come to light in sites in northern Jiangsu and southern Shandong provinces. Other comparable examples are known from private and public collections in the world. This cong has ten vertical and regular registers carved on each corner: each register is decorated with anthropomorphic masks, similar to those engraved at the corners of cong no.2 in this auction. The masks have incised, circular eyes and a smooth carved band standing for the mouth topped by two bands of thin, parallel, incised lines that enclose a plain strip. Each register is separated from the next one by a slightly recessed carved groove. The jade between the short band representing the mouth and the striated bands at the top is also abraded, so that the features of the masks appear slightly more highlighted when the cong is looked at from one of its flat sides and the masks are seen in profile. Two collars protrude from the top and bottom of the cong, which has a slightly tapering profile: while the circumference of the collars is quite irregular in thickness and shape, the rest of the cong is amazingly regular in structure, as can also be seen in the precision of the incised lines and carved areas. The colour of the jade includes various tones of green mixed with a reddish brown area that runs along half of one collar and down two of the sides. There are some black speckles, white patches and crack-like lines that cross the jade, as well as extensive areas of calcification that cover roughly one-half of the cong. The exterior is polished and mostly smooth, except where calcification is present, whereas the core has only been smoothed down to a certain point of the inside collar area. Similar tall cong with ten to twelve registers have been discovered in tombs of the late Liangzhu culture site of Sidun (Wujin county, Jiangsu province), and are reproduced in Zhejiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology 浙江省文物考古研究所, Liangzhu wenhua yuqi 良渚文化玉器 (Jades of the Liangzhu Culture), Wenwu Chubanshe, Beijing 1990, nos Further comparable examples are offered by four tall cong in the Samuel and Myrna Myers collection, published in J.P. Desroches (ed.), Two Americans in Paris. A Quest for Asian Art, Paris 2016, nos.33, 36, 39 and 40, and by an additional tall cong published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Vienna 2017, no.56. From a Luxembourg collection 盧森堡舊藏 HEIGHT: 34 CM, DIAMETER OF INNER HOLE: 6.7/4.7 CM 高 34 厘米, 內孔直徑 6.7/4.7 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR ,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR ,-) 16

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14 5 A LEVIGATED, AMBER-COLOURED JADE FU AXE WITH A SMOOTH CONTOUR AND A ROUND EDGE Late Neolithic, Early Bronze Age, c BC 玉斧 - 新石器時代晚期, 青銅時代早期, 約公元前 年 This thick axe with a smooth contour has a lovely amber colour, and although the shape is rather imperfect, it presents some very interesting details. It is asymmetrical with a diagonally cut top side and varying degrees of sloping on the sides and bottom curve. The surface is slightly rounded and the axe thins ever so slightly towards the cutting edge. On one side, to the right of the central hole, there is a thin vertical ridge that begins near the top and extends down about two-thirds of the length: the ridge results from the slicing of the block of jade during the initial shaping of the axe. The hole for attachment is smooth within and has been drilled on a slight diagonal. The jade, smooth but not polished to a high finish, is greenish with striations of a darker green, almost black grey, with whiter vertical lines and calcified areas, mostly along the edges. When held to the light, the jade displays a beautiful deep amber colour, determined by the natural inclusions of iron in the stone. Roughly shaped axes such as the present one were occasionally carved by the late Neolithic cultures based in central and north-western China. The type of jade, the polishing and the carving techniques suggest a possible attribution to the Qijia culture of Gansu province. Compare with three Qijia culture axes published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Vienna 2017, nos From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 HEIGHT: 12.6 CM, WIDTH: 7.6 CM, THICKNESS: 9.5 MM 高 12.6 厘米, 寬 7.6 厘米, 厚 9.5 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.800,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 3.600,-) 18

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16 6 A DELICATE BRACELET IN DARK GREEN JADE WITH YELLOW-COLOURED SPECKLES AND A SMOOTH CONCAVE BORDER Late Neolithic, Liangzhu culture, c BC 玉鐲 - 新石器時代晚期, 良渚文化晚期, 約公元前 年 This exquisite Late Neolithic jade bracelet is almost contemporary in form. It is evenly worked and shaped like a thick band of overall equal thickness with a slightly concave outer side. The jade is thoroughly polished, with a slightly rounded edge on the inner side; the circular shape of the ornament is also somewhat irregular, showing that the bracelet was shaped by hand. The mottled yellow and orangey areas and whitish fine lines give a spectacularly interesting effect to the dark green jade. Bracelets of this shape with a concave outer wall are documented in sites of the Liangzhu culture: a similar one, carved in a similar type of jade, was excavated in 1973 from tomb 198 of the Caoxieshan site (Wu county, Jiangsu province) and is reproduced in Mou Yongkang, Zhongguo yuqi quanji - 1 Yuanshi shehui 中國玉器全集 1: 原始社會 (Chinese Jades: Vol.1, Early Societies), Hebei Meishu Chubanshe, Shijiazhuang 1993, no.254. See also a bracelet in the Harvard Art Museums, accession number , published in M. Loehr and L.G. Fitzgerald Huber, Ancient Chinese jades from the Grenville L. Winthrop collection in the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA) 1975, no.173. From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 DIAMETER: 9.4 CM, DIAMETER OF INNER HOLE: 8.1 CM, THICKNESS: 7.1 MM 直徑 9.4 厘米, 內孔直徑 8.1 厘米, 厚 7.1 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 3.000,-) 20

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18 7 A CONG-SHAPED BEAD IN WHITENED JADE WITH RUSSET VEINS DECORATED WITH FINELY RENDERED MASKS Late Neolithic, Liangzhu culture, c BC 獸面紋琮形玉墜 - 新石器時代晚期, 良渚文化, 約公元前 年 Although most Liangzhu beads are cylindrical or spherical and bear no decoration, this one belongs to the category of beads with a square cross-section worked in the shape of a miniature cong 琮. The bead is decorated with the two types of masks that are seen on Liangzhu culture jades. The masks are accurately rendered and organized in two registers, with the anthropomorphic mask placed over the animal one. Given the reduced space on which the images are carved, the round eyes of the human-like mask are set at the centre of the four sides, so that they are shared by each of the masks carved at the corners. Instead, the zoomorphic masks are fully detailed, but there are only two of them since each one occupies two sides of the bead. The parallel, striated bands on the top border form a continuous band. The jade has turned almost opaque white, while the surface is covered by reddish lines, indicating the presence of oxidized iron in the stone. This alteration, artificially induced through ritual burning of the jades at the time of burial, is also seen on Liangzhu jades that were excavated from the two elite cemeteries of Fanshan and Yaoshan in Yuhan county, Zhejiang. Although small cong-shaped beads like this one may have been strung together with several others to compose elaborate necklaces that were reserved for the members of the Liangzhu aristocracy, archaeological evidence indicates that they might also have been used to decorate ritual jade axes: the beads were probably hung by small ropes that were secured onto the wooden shaft, whose extremities were also occasionally adorned with jade fittings. These beads can be compared to similar ones excavated from Liangzhu culture sites, such as those reproduced in Zhejiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology 浙江省文物考古研究所, Liangzhu wenhua yuqi 良渚文化玉器 (Jades of the Liangzhu Culture), Wenwu Chubanshe, Beijing 1990, nos.70, , and in Huang Xuanpei, Gems of the Liangzhu Culture from the Shanghai Museum, Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong 1992, no.69. This bead can also be compared to three similar ones published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.68. From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 HEIGHT: 4.8 CM, WIDTH: 2.6 CM 高 4.8 厘米, 寬 2.6 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.800,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 3.600,-) 22

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20 8 A REMARKABLE NEOLITHIC HOOF-SHAPED (TIXING) SLANTED TUBE IN STRONGLY WEATHERED JADE Late Neolithic, Hongshan culture, c BC 蹄形, 斜口筒形玉器 - 新石器時代晚期, 紅山文化, 約公元前 年 This peculiarly-shaped hollow tube is an exceptional example of the amazing accomplishments of the Neolithic Hongshan carvers who skillfully and laboriously removed the core from a block of jade to create imposing head ornaments. The slanted top of the hollowed tube resembles the hoof of an animal, which is why these ornaments are also described as tixing 蹄形, or hoof shaped. The large tube, shorter in the front than in the back, has a slightly oval crosssection and thin walls that widen gently from the base to the top. Two tiny holes with a strongly slanted outer edge are drilled at equidistant points at the bottom of the ornament, probably for the insertion of a pin or rope. There are smooth, vertical grooves carved on the inside of the tube that may have had a purely decorative function, but as the object was possibly used as a hair ornament, the grooves might have served to help keep the hair in place. The jade, originally dark green in colour with blackened areas, is strongly weathered and has weakened over time. The small chips along the top and bottom borders and the fissures in the stone are natural breakages that occurred during burial: often seen on similar artefacts from excavations, they have mostly been found in graves of the Niuheliang site (Jianping county, Liaoning province). The mottled jade has taken on a bluish-greyish tone with small spots of coral, brown, black: the inner and outer surfaces are covered with white veins and patches. This jade is published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.7. From a German collection 德國老同志 HEIGHT: 10.5 CM, DIAMETER: 6.9 CM 高 10.5 厘米, 直徑 6.9 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 3.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 7.000,-) 24

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22 9 A STRIKING YUE AXE WITH A PERFECT MIRROR-LIKE FINISH CARVED FROM A RICHLY TEXTURED NEPHRITE JADE Late Neolithic, Liangzhu culture, c BC 玉鉞 - 新石器時代晚期, 良渚文化, 約公元前 年 The most impressive features of this arresting yue 鉞 axe are the perfection of the carving, the extremely fine polish and the colours of the richly textured nephrite. The yue has a marked trapezoidal profile with a clean-cut straight butt, balanced by the elegantly curved cutting edge. In the top centre there is a fastening hole, drilled from both sides, with a ridge in the middle: the inside of the hole was left unpolished, in sharp contrast with the perfect finish of the rest of the axe. The lateral, sloping sides and the cutting edge have been thinned, rendering the surfaces slightly convex, though the curvature is almost imperceptible. The surfaces are shiny, smooth and polished to an almost mirror-like high luster that gives this axe a rather dramatic appearance. The axe is carved from a richly textured green nephrite with a beautiful spectrum of colours that range from light green and russet to brown, black and white. One of the sides is reddishbrown, due to the high content of iron. The yue is rather thick and, under focused light, only the areas close to the thinned edges are translucent. A similar, but slightly smaller axe, carved from a very similar quality of jade with the same neatly cut and highly polished butt, was offered at Christie s London, King Street, sale 5889, on 6 November 2012, lot 74. This jade is published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.75. Length: 18.6 cm 長 18.6 厘米 From an Italian collection 義大利舊藏 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 4.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 9.000,-) 26

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24 10 A RARE SMALL ORNAMENTAL PLAQUE MINUTELY CARVED IN OPENWORK AND LOW RELIEF IN THE SHAPE OF A BEING WITH A FEATHERED HEADDRESS AND AN ANIMAL MASK Late Neolithic, Liangzhu culture, c BC 神人, 獸面紋玉牌飾 - 新石器時代晚期, 良渚文化, 約公元前 年 The rather daunting image on this small plaque, which is formed by a humanlike figure with a large feathered headdress carved in low relief above an animal face with large eyes, represents a type of jade ornament that is unique to the Liangzhu culture. The plaque is basically triangular in shape, with a straight top that comes to a small point in the centre, corresponding to the tip of the feathered headdress worn by the human figure below it. The headdress is marked with parallel lines, representing the quills, which frame the trapezoidal human face with round eyes, a nose, and an open mouth showing two rows of teeth. Two cut-outs separate the anthropomorphic face from the animal one carved at the bottom of the ornament: the large eyes, marked by concentric circles, and the snout of the animal face are rendered in slight relief. The whole surface, including the lateral projections comprised between the two faces, is covered with minute incisions that take the shape of circles, whorls and fine parallel and radiating lines, while the back is plain and flat, with no decoration at all. The rounded bottom of the ornament follows the shape of animal s mouth and the entire contour of the plaque is marked with a faintly incised double line. The jade is mottled orange and rust colour, with black, brown, beige and white spots that are mostly concentrated in the bottom curve on the smooth back of the object. Similar carvings have been excavated from graves of the Yaoshan cemetery (Yuhang county, Zhejiang province), where only the highest members of the Liangzhu elite were buried. Most of the jades from these tombs are decorated with this intimidating man and animal motif, likely the principal divinity venerated by the Liangzhu people. For a very similar example, see Zhejiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology 浙江省文物考古研究所, Liangzhu wenhua yuqi 良渚文化玉器 (Jades of the Liangzhu Culture), Wenwu Chubanshe, Beijing 1990, no.221. From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 WIDTH: 6.9 MM, HEIGHT: 4.5 CM, LENGTH: 5.7 CM 寬 6.9 厘米, 高 4.5 厘米, 長 5.7 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 3.000,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 6.000,-) 28

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26 11 A FASCINATING YABI, OR NOTCHED DISC, WITH THREE POINTED PROTRUSIONS ENRICHED WITH THIN AND DELICATELY CARVED NOTCHES Late Neolithic, early Bronze Age, Longshan culture, c BC 玉牙璧精品 - 新石器時代晚期, 青銅時代早期, 龍山文化, 約公元前 年 Notched discs form a unique category of jades crafted in late Neolithic, early Bronze Age China and are mostly associated with the Longshan culture. They are likely descended from earlier prototypes, since small circular ornaments worked in similar shapes have been discovered in sites of the Hongshan culture (c BC). This intriguing disc has an almost pinwheel shape due to the way in which the three projections with smaller notches near the tips were carved. The immediate, strong impact is due to the striking shape of the object: each of the three notches is adorned with a series of small, regular indentations that look, and feel, like teeth of a saw. No additional decorative motifs are carved on the disc, whose smooth, convex surfaces slope gently towards the inner central hole and outer perimeter. The light green jade presents some black speckles and numerous mottled rust coloured dots throughout. The notched disc seems opaque, but when held to the light it is actually quite translucent, except for the coloured areas where the iron contained in the jade blocks the light. Notched discs with similar crenellations are in the Samuel and Myrna Myers collection, see J.P. Desroches (ed.), Two Americans in Paris. A Quest for Asian Art, Paris 2016, nos.77, 81, 83. See also F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.94. Two further examples in the Harvard Art Museums, accession numbers /532, are published in M. Loehr and L.G. Fitzgerald Huber, Ancient Chinese Jades from the Grenville L. Winthrop Collection in the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA) 1975, nos 玉器 (Jades of the Liangzhu Culture), Wenwu Chubanshe, Beijing 1990, no.221. From a Luxembourg collection 盧森堡舊藏 DIAMETER: 9.3 CM, DIAMETER OF INNER HOLE: 4.3 CM, THICKNESS: 0.94 CM 直徑 9.3 厘米, 內孔直徑 4.3 厘米, 厚 0.94 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 3.000,-) 30

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28 12 A BEAUTIFUL, THOROUGHLY POLISHED PLAIN CONG OF SQUARE SHAPE CARVED FROM EMERALD GREEN JADE Late Neolithic, Longshan culture, c BC 玉琮精品 - 龍山文化, 約公元前 年 What immediately attracts the eye when looking at this plain cong 琮 is the quality and beautiful colour of the jade, which is a mottled light emerald green, with many diffused white and darker swirled areas throughout. The cong has the typical basic square shape of Longshan culture (c BC) jades of this type, but when analyzed more closely one can see that the sides and corners are all slightly rounded, instead of angular and flat. Although polished, inside and out, the sides are also not totally smooth and there are noticeable imperfections in the form of varying widths of the collar, and faint traces of the tool marks on the inside core that reveal the imperfections of the carver s manual workmanship. One corner that has broken off due to a fault in the jade was smoothed over during the carving process. Plain cong like the present one were carved by the Longshan culture and have been found in sites in central China, Shaanxi and Henan provinces. Compare, for example, two cong discovered in 1967 in Longshan culture sites near Yan an city, in Shaanxi province, published in Mou Yongkang, Zhongguo yuqi quanji - 1 Yuanshi shehui 中國玉器全集 1: 原始社會 (Chinese Jades: Vol.1, Early Societies), Hebei Meishu Chubanshe, Shijiazhuang 1993, no.43 and 44. This jade is published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.75. From a Luxembourg collection 盧森堡舊藏 HEIGHT: 6 CM, WIDTH: 7 CM, DIAMETER: 6.9 CM, DIAMETER OF INNER HOLE: 5.3 CM, THICKNESS: 9.2 MM 高 6 厘米, 寬 7 厘米, 直徑 6.9 厘米, 內孔直徑 5.3 厘米, 厚 9.2 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.400,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 2.800,-) 32

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30 13 A DAO, OR KNIFE-SHAPED BLADE, WITH FIVE FASTENING HOLES, CARVED FROM A MULTI-COLOURED JADE WITH A WHITE STRIPE Early Bronze Age, Qijia culture, c BC 五孔玉刀, 青銅時代早期, 齊家文化, 約公元前 年 This rather long knife, known as a dao 刀 in Chinese, is carved from a jade with a striking mix of coloured areas. Five equidistant and somewhat irregular holes are drilled from one side only along the top side of the slightly trapezoidal blade: the holes were used to fasten the ceremonial blade onto a wooden support with the aid of ropes. The originally whitish colour of the jade is visible in only one very small area that runs along the bottom, cutting edge. The main body of the blade is almost completely yellowish in colour, with various speckles of black and brown. An irregular marked black striation extends along the lateral and top sides, which are calcified and whitish. The marble-like variations in colour, which are due to alterations caused by inclusions, create a striking visual effect. There are some rough, slightly nicked areas along the top as well as a chip in the calcified jade on one of the lower corners. The stone and workmanship are typical of the jades crafted by the Qijia culture of north-western China. Compare three ceremonial knives with a similar form and texture in the Harvard Art Museums, accession numbers /53/96, published in M. Loehr and L.G. Fitzgerald Huber, Ancient Chinese Jades from the Grenville L. Winthrop Collection in the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA) 1975, nos A large knife with a similar colour, texture and calcified top border is published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.135. From a Luxembourg collection 盧森堡舊藏 LENGTH: 26.5 CM, WIDTH: 5.8 CM, THICKNESS: 0.47 CM, 長 26.5 厘米, 寬 5.8 厘米, 厚 0.47 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.400,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 2.800,-) 34

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32 14 AN INTERESTING THREE-SECTION DISC CARVED IN MARBLE-LIKE JADE Early Bronze Age, Qijia culture, c BC 三合玉璧 - 青銅時代早期, 齊家文化, 約公元前 年 Discs formed by segments of jade that were sliced separately and then joined together are one of the most common categories of jades crafted by the Qijia culture of north-western China. This disc, with a slightly irregular contour, is actually made of three arch-shaped segments- called huang 璜 in Chinese- that when assembled and tied together, create a complete disc. The single sections, each with a hole drilled roughly in the centre of each short side, were cut from the same block of an almost marble-like jade. Qijia carvers fully exploited the natural qualities of the unevenly coloured stones, typical of north-western China, that were available to them: they created fascinating objects with no carved decoration, whose main appeal is in the purity of shapes and the various nuances of colours embedded in the stone. The semi-translucent jade, of a beautiful quality, is white in colour with black and brown areas that fade into each other. The chalky white strips and patches that are visible along the outer edge of each section were caused by natural processes of alteration of the stone that occurred during burial: in the areas affected by these changes, the jade has turned opaque. When placed one on top of the other, the white markings on the edges match perfectly, suggesting that the three sections were piled up in the tomb, and not composed in the form of a disc. Compare a similar disc in three parts sold at Sotheby s Hong Kong on 1-2 June 2017, sale HK0732, lot 362. From a Luxembourg collection 盧森堡舊藏 DIAMETER: 15.3 CM 直徑 15.3 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.800,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 3.600,-) 36

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34 15 AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE 60 CM LONG CEREMONIAL BLADE IN THE SHAPE OF A LARGE KNIFE WITH SEVEN FASTENING HOLES CARVED FROM A BRILLIANT GREEN VARIETY OF JADE Early Bronze Age, Qijia culture, c BC 罕見七孔大玉刀, 青銅時代早期, 齊家文化, 約公元前 年 This impressively large and exceptionally rare dao 刀, or knife-shaped blade, is carved from a brilliant, semi-translucent green jade. It is roughly trapezoidal in shape, with slightly sloping short sides. The straight and thicker top has seven equidistant, slightly conical holes that were drilled from one side only, while the cutting edge is sharper and not completely straight: the almost imperceptible undulations show that the blade was crafted by hand. The marble-like pattern on the surfaces of the jade is created by a natural mixture of different hues of green, with some blacker parts and speckles, a splattering of orange and some veins of lighter green: one striation runs vertically down the jade, from approximately the third hole to the last one, where it divides. There are some nicks and additional broken sections that can be found along the top edge. Large ceremonial blades such as this one were one of the main symbols of authority in the transitional period between the late Neolithic and the early Bronze Age. Their shape is probably derived from harvesting or reaping tools in stone, but the fact that these blades were carved in jade indicates their ritual, non-utilitarian function. On the basis of the quality of the material and workmanship, the blade can be assigned to the Qijia culture, which flourished in north-western China. However, the shape was likely derived from the neighbouring, contemporary Erlitou culture located in Henan province. In fact, the closest matching example to this blade is a famous jade knife excavated at Erlitou, which has a length of 65.2 cm and seven holes drilled along the top edge (see J. Rawson, Chinese Jade. From the Neolithic to the Qing, London 1995, fig.2 p.184). This jade is published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.134. From an Italian collection 義大利舊藏 LENGTH 61.6 CM 長 61.6 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 3.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 7.000,-) 38

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36 16 A FASCINATING AND RARE BLACK AND WHITE SLENDER BEN ADZE Early Bronze Age, Qijia culture, c BC 罕見黑白色玉錛, 青銅時代早期, 齊家文化, 約公元前 年 This intriguing and extremely accurately carved adzeshaped jade has a very straightforward, slender and simple form: what makes it really fascinating is the combination of black and white colours which creates a sort of yin-yang effect. The surface on one side is mostly white and smooth with only small areas of black and russet coloured striations, while the opposite side is almost completely black. The adze provides a perfect example of how imaginative the ancient jade carvers were when exploiting the natural characteristics inherent in the stone. The darker side of the jade is probably the skin that covered the block of white jade, most likely from Qinghai province: instead of removing it, the carver integrated the blackcoloured section into the finished object, creating a striking and unique visual effect. The chisel has a squared off oval shape with a hole drilled near one of the shorter edges: the opposite, cutting side is sloped and thinned. Two comparable jades of similar form but in different, more ordinary qualities of jade from the collection of Robert H. Ellsworth were auctioned at Christie s New York on 19 March 2015, sale 11420, lots no.467 and 477. From a Luxembourg collection 盧森堡舊藏 LENGTH: 22.8 CM 長 22.8 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.900,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 3.800,-) 40

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38 17 AN EXTREMELY RARE COMPOSITE DISC IN SEVEN SECTIONS CARVED FROM A BLOCK OF YELLOW-COLOURED JADE Late Neolithic, early Bronze Age, c BC 罕見七合玉璧, 新石器時代晚期, 青銅器早期, 約公元前 年 This very rare composite disc has seven sections, which is an unusual number for discs of this kind, as they were generally made of two to four sections (see the three-section disc no.14 in this auction). Segmented discs represent a category of jades that are mostly attested in sites of the Late Neolithic, early Bronze Age and have been discovered in a vast area stretching from southern Shanxi to north-western Gansu provinces. The seven segments were sliced from the same block of creamy white jade, which has black spots that are determined by the inclusions in the stone, and some altered or calcified areas that are opaque white. This variety of whitish jade with only a limited amount of inclusions was probably obtained from deposits in Qinghai province and suggests that the object was crafted by cultures of north-western China that had easier geographical access to the sources of this material. The sections, trapezoidal in shape and of almost equal size, are rather thin and semi-translucent, as can be seen when held to the light: there are various nicks and cracks, mostly along the edges, where the jade has altered and turned chalky white. Each segment is provided with two small, conical holes, drilled from one side only, that were used to fasten the various parts together when composed in the shape of a disc. As mentioned, sectioned discs are usually made of two to four jade segments. Discs with more sections are fairly rare in the archaeological records and might have been reserved for individuals with special status. A disc earlier in date than the present one, made of six roughly shaped slabs of jade, has been discovered in a tomb belonging to the second phase of the Miaodigou culture (c.3000 to 2600 BC), in southern Shanxi province. Instead, a disc formed by nine sections that is closer in date to the present one is in the Samuel and Myrna Myers collection: see J.P. Desroches (ed.), Two Americans in Paris. A Quest for Asian Art, Paris 2016, no.73. From a Luxembourg collection 盧森堡舊藏 DIAMETER: 22.5 CM, 直径 22.5 厘米, Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 3.700,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 7.400,-) 42

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40 18 A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE MINIATURE CONG IN RESPLENDENT WHITE JADE DECORATED WITH REGULAR, WELL-CARVED BANDS ON THE CORNERS Early Bronze Age, Qijia culture, c BC 小白玉琮精品 - 青銅時代早期, 齊家文化, 約公元前 年 This exquisite, miniature cong 琮 in resplendent white jade with subtle yellow tonalities has been carved to perfection and can be assigned to the Qijia culture of north-western China. Qijia culture cong are derived from similar jades crafted by the Longshan culture (c ) that were ultimately derived from Liangzhu culture (c BC) cong. Qijia cong are usually plain, but they may occasionally be decorated with series of parallel ridges in relief that are either carved at the corners or all around the cong. These bands mimic the regular registers carved at the corners of Liangzhu culture cong, and are hence rendered in a more simplified and abstract manner. This miniature cong represents a variation of similar objects decorated with raised lines, though here the lines have been transformed to form groups of four short, raised bands that are neatly carved along the four corners of the object. As the Liangzhu culture cong, it has four equally spaced registers that are separated by horizontal bands, while vertical bands divide the registers in the centre of each side. The jade is almost pure white and highly polished with just a few greyish marks and a slightly orange tinge that can only be detected when the object is held to the light. The cong, with its geometric simplicity and lack of embellishments, almost resembles a contemporary, sculptural work of art. A similar but undecorated small cong in white jade is published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.106. From an Italian collection 義大利舊藏 HEIGHT: 4.1 CM 高 4.1 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 2.000,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 4.000,-) 44

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42 19 A SUPERB CUBE-SHAPED CONG WITH FINELY POLISHED SIDES CARVED FROM MOTTLED BROWN JADE Early Bronze Age, Qijia culture, c BC 方形玉琮 - 青銅時代早期, 齊家文化, 約公元前 年 This highly polished square cong 琮 has a clearly defined, geometric form with straight sides and two short collars that protrude from the top and bottom ends. The angles are rather sharp and lend an almost austere quality to the carving. Although the central hole is much more cylindrical, with a more even thickness, there is some flatness on the external area of the collar, where it blends into the straight sides of the cong. The internal core, not as smooth as the polished exterior, has a series of easily discernible grooves: these are the tool marks that were left on the inside when the core of the cong was drilled and removed. The jade is mostly mottled brown and white, except for one side which is much whiter with scattered brown spots that create a leopard-skin effect. A cong of similar shape carved in a variety of jade that is comparable to the present one is published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.102. From an Italian collection 義大利舊藏 HEIGHT: 8.1 CM, WIDTH: 7.9 CM 高 8.1 厘米 ; 寬 7.9 厘米 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 3.000,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 6.000,-) 46

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44 20 A SMOOTHLY POLISHED BI DISC WITH SHINY SURFACES CARVED FROM GREEN JADE WITH BROWN STRIPES Late Neolithic, Longshan culture, C BC 玉璧 - 新石器時代晚期, 龍山文化, 約公元前 年 This interesting bi 璧 disc, that can be assigned to the late Neolithic period, Longshan culture, has a handsome colour combination. It was carved from a fine quality of bright green jade with some minor greyish marbling and brown markings on the smoothed edge, and it has a glossy finish, as seen on similar discs found in Longshan culture sites in Shaanxi province or, less frequently, at Taosi (c BC) in Xiangfen county, Shanxi province. There is also a dense, whitish, but fine mottling that is more visible when focused light is shined through the piece. This almost completely flat disk is amazingly thin: its outer edge is only about 2 mm thick, and thus the jade remains perfectly translucent. Published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.100. DIAMETER: 16.1 CM, HOLE: 6.1 CM, THICKNESS: CM 外直徑 16.1 厘米, 內直徑 6.1 厘米, 厚 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 3.000,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 6.000,-) 48

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46 21 A GROUP OF THREE FACETED RINGS AND ONE JUE SLIT-RING FINELY CARVED IN AGATE WITH RUST- COLOURED FILAMENTS Late Western Zhou to Eastern Zhou period, 10 th to 4 th century BC 三瑪瑙環, 一瑪瑙玦, 西周時代晚期到東周時代, 公元前 10 世紀 - 前 4 世紀 The three faceted rings and one slit-ring in agate that form the small group presented here are items of personal adornment that were in fashion from the late Western Zhou to the Eastern Zhou period. They were fastened together, also with beads, to form pendants that produced a lovely tinkling sound. The internal holes of the rings are faceted, while the convex rounded surfaces slope to the external edge, ending in a slightly irregular, but rounded and thinner perimeter: the somewhat irregular outlines and surfaces are evidence that they were crafted by hand. Although the surfaces are smooth, they present some texture, as they have not been polished to a high sheen. The rings are mostly transparent with a lovely opaque quality. Noticeable rust-coloured and cloudier whitish filaments are present in various areas throughout, except for the slit-ring -which has very few, and the smallest ring- which only has a very small spot of white in the central, faceted area. There are some minor chips on the slit-ring. For two comparable rings in agate from the Robert H. Ellsworth collection, see Christie s sale 11420, New York 19 March 2015, lot no.585. Compare also a group agate of rings and slit-rings published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.235. DIAMETERS: 4.9/4.8/4/4.6 CM 環直徑 4.9/4.8/4/4.6 厘米 From an Italian collection 義大利舊藏 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 2.000,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 4.000,-) 50

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48 22 A DELICATELY CARVED TINY PLAQUE IN GREEN JADE WITH TWO CRESTED AND LONG-TAILED BIRDS DECORATED ON ONE SIDE Western Zhou, 10 th -9 th century BC 雙鳳紋玉飾片 - 西周時代, 公元前 10 世紀 前 9 世紀 One side of this tiny, roughly rectangular plaque in green jade is decorated with two long-tailed, crested birds in profile, a typical motif of middle to late Western Zhou jades. The birds, designed with double-incised lines, are placed one over the other: they have long beaks with downwards-pointing tips, an upright crest and a long tail that extends upwards from the back, and passes over the bird, terminating in front of the head. The bird at the bottom also has clawed feet. Only one side of the plaque is decorated: the other is plain and has a tiny ridge along one of the longer edges, suggesting that the small plaque was probably re-carved from another jade. Four conical holes are drilled near the corners, indicating that the jade was most likely attached to some support: in the late Western Zhou, similar small plaques were sewn on funerary veils that were placed over the face of the deceased. The jade is light green and translucent but quite covered with a cloudy brown tinge and some superficial alteration, mostly on the back, which has rendered the affected areas slightly opaque. There is a nick on the top edge, as well as a small chip on the lower left corner. Three similar plaques carved with identical birds are in the Harvard Art Museums and published in M. Loehr and L.G. Fitzgerald Huber, Ancient Chinese Jades from the Grenville L. Winthrop Collection in the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA) 1975, nos (accession numbers /134/135). LENGTH: 7.6 CM 長 7.6 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 3.000,-) 52

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50 23 A FINELY CARVED SMALL GE DAGGER-AXE IN YELLOWISH JADE WITH DELICATE GROOVES Late Shang, 13 th -12 th century BC 小玉戈 - 商代晚期, 公元前 13 世紀 - 前 12 世紀 The ge 戈,or dagger-axe, is a type of ancient Chinese weapon in metal which made its appearance at the beginning of the Bronze Age (c.2000 BC) and remained in use throughout the Zhou period. Ge are composed of a blade, shaped as a slightly curved dagger, and a tang, which was inserted into a wooden shaft. Jade ge, which were probably for ceremonial use, are faithful replicas of the bronze weapons and come in different sizes: from very large ones- measuring 30 centimetres or more, to smaller ones- such as this lot, down to miniature versions which were probably used as pendants. This finely carved and thoroughly polished ge of the late Shang period is striking for its lovely colour and the translucency of the glass-like jade. Though carved in one piece, it is clearly divided into two sections: a short, squared tang, drilled with a biconical hole, and a slightly curved blade that terminates in a tapered tip. Two small indentations separate the tang from the blade, with bevelled edges. One side is plain and smooth while the other has a central ridge that separates the two scooped out grooves that run along the blade for almost its entire length. The highly polished jade is light green and presents striations of white, orange, and black. The white crinkle effect with a few black spots on the plain side of the ge and a white strip along one edge are due to natural alteration of the stone. Three similar ge blades from the collection of Prof. Max Loehr ( ) were auctioned at Sotheby s Paris on 15 December 2016, sale no.pf1627, lot 42 (originally published in Chinese Archaic Jades and Bronzes from the Estate of Professor Max Loehr and others, J.J. Lally & Co., New York 1993, no.44). Compare also a small ge dagger-axe from the collection of Samuel and Myrna Myers sold at Sotheby s New York on 18 March 2014, sale NO9116, lot 143. LENGTH: 13.9 CM 長 13.9 厘米 From a Luxembourg collection 盧森堡舊藏 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 2.800,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 5.600,-) 54

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52 One of the stylized dragon heads 24 A REFINED HUAN RING WITH SUBTLY CARVED ABSTRACT- LOOKING DRAGON HEADS Eastern Zhou, Spring and Autumn period, 6 th 5 th century BC 龍頭紋玉環 - 東周春秋時代, 公元前 6 世紀 - 前 5 世紀 The seemingly abstract, very regular pattern carved on both sides of this simple yet sophisticated ornamental ring, is actually made up of four highly stylized dragon heads arranged in a circle. The animals are enclosed within two thin bands, marked with an incised line that runs around the inner and outer edges of the ring. The snout, mouth and ear of the dragons are rendered with engraved curls, while the oval eyes are incised and filled with criss-cross etched lines. Pairs of s-shaped motifs accompanied by hooked, comma shaped elements filled with etched lines, are carved in the areas between the dragons heads. There is a noticeable, irregular thickness to the disc, which is thinner in one specific point. The light green, partly translucent jade is almost completely coloured with mottled amber hues that are darker towards the external areas. On one side, almost half of the disc presents heavy alterations: the jade is polished and generally quite smooth, even in the altered areas. An Eastern Zhou disc carved with a similar pattern was excavated in 1991 at Xujialing (Xichuan county, Henan province) and is illustrated in S. Lee (ed.), China 5000 years. Innovation and Transformation in the Arts, Solomon R. Guggenhein Museum, New York 1998, no.15. Compare also four huang pendants decorated with similar motifs and published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.206 Diameter 10.2 cm 直徑 10.2 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 4.000,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 8.000,-) 56

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54 25 AN ORNAMENTAL RING IN PARTLY CALCIFIED WHITE JADE DECORATED WITH THE TWISTED-ROPE PATTERN Eastern Zhou, 4 th 3 rd century BC 絞絲紋玉環 - 東周時代, 公元前 4 世紀 - 前 3 世紀 This interesting partly calcified ring in white jade is carved with a pattern of parallel, spiraling, carved lines, known as the twisted-rope motif. The artistry of the carving is rather exceptional, as the carved lines spiral around the jade in such a way that it is not possible to determine where the design begins and where it ends. There is also an extensive brown coloration to the disc, especially on one side where approximately one-half of the jade is almost completely covered: the other side has fewer brown areas. The ring is partially calcified which has rendered the jade quite rough to the touch. Three comparable rings in green jade are in the Harvard Art Museums (accession numbers /612/618) and published in M. Loehr and L.G. Fitzgerald Huber, Ancient Chinese Jades from the Grenville L. Winthrop Collection in the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA) 1975, no See also another similar ring in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.242. Diameter: 8.1 cm 直徑 8.1 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.400,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 2.800,-) 58

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56 26 THREE TINY BI-CONICAL BEADS IN WHITE JADE WITH DELICATELY CARVED SCROLLS IN RELIEF Eastern Zhou, 4 th 3 rd century BC 三穀紋玉墜 - 東周時代, 公元前 4 世紀 - 前 3 世紀 Small beads like the three grouped here, and those in lots no.27 to no.29 in this auction, were commonly used in the Eastern Zhou period as components of pendants: the jades were strung together with gold or metal chains which passed through the hole drilled at the centre of the beads. These three lovely small biconical beads in white jade are decorated with a delicate pattern of small spirals in relief and an incised line that delimits the border of each end. All three beads present extensive calcification in the form of chalky white areas on most of the surfaces. Three very similar beads are published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.206 Length: 3 / 3 / 3 cm 長 3 / 3 / 3 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 3.000,-) 60

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58 27 A BARREL-SHAPED BEAD DECORATED WITH THE PANHUI PATTERN OF SWARMING CURLS Eastern Zhou, 4 th -3 rd century BC 蟠虺紋桶形玉墜 - 東周時代, 公元前 4 世紀 - 前 3 世紀 Beads with a barrel-shaped profile, like the present lot, are attested in tombs dating to the middle of the Western Zhou period (10 th century BC) and continued to be used until the end of the Eastern Zhou (4 th - 3 rd century BC). The extremities of this bead are marked by two plain, slightly recessed sections immediately followed by tiny bands carved with striated, parallel and diagonal lines. A third, similar band, is carved in the middle of the bead, where it separates the low relief decoration into two registers. The surface is covered with a pattern called swarming curls, or panhui 蟠虺 in Chinese, formed by differently oriented fat scrolls in relief organized in vertical columns. Conical holes drilled at each end run through the entire length of the bead. The jade is a mixture of bright green, brown with white calcified areas, especially on one side of the bead. Only the polished top and bottom are smooth. Like the following lot, no.27 this bead can be compared to one published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.240. Length: 4.8 cm 長 4.8 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.200,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 2.400,-) 62

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60 28 A SUPERB BARREL-SHAPED BEAD IN WHITE JADE WITH MASK MOTIFS AND CURLS IN RELIEF Eastern Zhou, 4 th 3 rd century BC 獸面紋桶形玉墜 - 東周時代, 公元前 4 世紀 - 前 3 世紀 This bead, carved from a creamy white jade with a slightly brownish hue, is barrel-shaped, like no.27, but it has a flatter profile and its cross-section is oval, not round. Two pairs of animal masks are carved on each side of the bead and near the edges, which are marked by a narrow band with incised, parallel lines. The masks are reminiscent of the taotie 饕餮 motif that is frequently seen in late Shang dynasty (c.13 th - 11 th century BC) art: two long, straight horns with curled ends extend above the head, the eyes are separated by a straight nose with rounded nostrils and an open mouth is suggested at the bottom. On both sides of the bead, the space between the masks is filled with fat c-shaped curls and stylized dragon heads, while back to back vertical scrolls are carved along the sides. A straight hole is drilled through the centre. The flat ends are highly polished and smooth and the surface presents occasional black spots. In shape and decoration, this bead can be compared to a similar one published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.240. Length: 3.6 cm 長 3.6 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.200,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 2.400,-) 64

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62 29 A HOURGLASS-SHAPED BEAD IN GREEN JADE WITH A DENSE PANHUI PATTERN OF SWARMING CURLS Eastern Zhou, 4 th 3 rd century BC 蟠虺紋漏壺形玉管 - 東周時代, 公元前 4 世紀 - 前 3 世紀 Hourglass-shaped beads like the present one were in use during the Zhou period, from the 8 th to the 3 rd century BC. The organization of the decorative pattern on this bead is similar to no.27. The polished extremities are flat and bordered by two narrow, plain bands, while a third strip with incised lines, in the exact centre, separates the two sections that are covered with a pattern of swarming curls and stylized dragon heads (panhui 蟠虺 ). The jade is a mixture of light and dark green with some brown and various tones of amber that can be seen mostly at the larger end, where a tiny fragment of the jade had broken off, probably due to a fault in the stone. There is also a thin line of amber that runs halfway up the side. A conical hole pierced at each end runs vertically through the bead. Three comparable beads of similar shape in the Sir Joseph Hotung collection are illustrated in J. Rawson, Chinese Jade. From the Neolithic to the Qing, London 1995, nos.17:17 to 17:19. See also a similar bead of slightly later date published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.241. Length: 5.9 cm 長 5.9 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.200,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 2.400,-) 66

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64 30 AN INTERESTING THICK EARRING OF THE JUE TYPE IN PARTLY CALCIFIED WHITE JADE DECORATED WITH STYLIZED DRAGON HEADS Eastern Zhou, late Spring and Autumn period, 5 th century BC 龍頭紋玉玦 - 東周春秋時代晚期, 公元前 5 世紀 This ornamental jade, most likely an earring, is carved in the shape of a short tubular bead, with a neat slit cut into the stone and a hole drilled throughout the length of the jade. The shape recalls that of the Neolithic slit-rings known as jue 玦, from which this Eastern Zhou version, thicker and more tubular-like, is derived. Although it has the same basic circular shape of earlier slit-rings, this type of jue takes on a more three-dimensional, sculptural quality. The jue is decorated with a pattern of eight stylized dragon heads in profile carved within two registers: one register contains a row of four dragon heads oriented in the same direction, while the row with the other four dragon heads mirrors the image. The flat top and bottom ends of the jue are decorated with incised curls. The ornament was carved from white jade that is almost entirely calcified, with many amber incrustations along the carved areas. A pair of similar jue decorated with the same pattern of dragon heads and curls incised on the borders has been discovered in Spring and Autumn period tombs at Liulige (Hui county, Henan province): they are reproduced in J. Johnston, and Chan Lai Pik, 5,000 Years of Chinese Jade, featuring selections from the National Museum of History, Taiwan, and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, San Antonio Museum of Art, 2011, no.32 Two more comparable examples are in the British Museum and are reproduced in J. Rawson, Chinese Jade. From the Neolithic to the Qing, London 1995, fig.1, p.243. Length: 3.5 cm 長 3.5 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.800,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 3.600,-) 68

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66 31 A SMALL, FLAT TIGER-SHAPED PENDANT IN WHITE JADE DECORATED WITH A JUANYUN PATTERN OF SCROLLS Eastern Zhou, Warring States period, c. 4 th century BC 虎形玉飾 - 東周戰國時代, 公元前 4 世紀 This cute, thin pendant shaped as a tiger in profile with an open mouth and a big curling tail has great character. The image has maintained the squared off shape of the piece of jade from which it was carved, which is further emphasized by the retracted limbs of the animal, and the tufts of hair on top of the head and below the chin. The tiger is basically flat with only a vague sense of relief on the unadorned areas of the face and legs. The body and the tail are decorated with a pattern of fat scrolls -called juanyun 卷雲 in Chinese. Additional carved lines design the details of the claws, eye and the facial features of the tiger, as well the contour of the mouth. The very few cut-outs are located in the areas of the mouth, limbs and tail. There is also a hole for suspension in the top of the pendant that was drilled in the curve of the central scroll. The whitish jade has a lovely amber tint to it, especially around the edges, and mostly in the areas where there are no decorations. The rest of the stone remains quite translucent. Comparable tiger-shaped jades have been discovered in the 4 th century tombs of the kings of the Zhongshan state (Pingshan county, Henan province): one of them is reproduced in Mou Yongkang, Zhongguo yuqi quanji - 1 Yuanshi shehui 中國玉器全集 1: 原始社會 (Chinese Jades: Vol.1, Early Societies), Hebei Meishu Chubanshe, Shijiazhuang 1993, no.122. WIDTH: 7.2 cm 寬 7.2 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 2.200,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 4.400,-) 70

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68 32 AN EXCEPTIONAL OPENWORK ORNAMENT WITH AN INTRICATE DESIGN OF DRAGONS AND BIRDS Eastern Zhou, 5 th 4 th century BC 鏤空龍鳳紋玉佩 - 東周時代, 公元前 5 世紀 - 前 4 世紀 The design of this intricate openwork ornament requires an attentive look to discern the pattern. The complex design, formed by four dragons and four stylized phoenix-like birds with undulating bodies, is identical on both sides and demonstrates the carver s amazing skill: the rigorous sense of symmetry is typical of ornamental plaques of this type that, during the Eastern Zhou period, were mostly crafted in southern China and in the cultural sphere of the Chu state. At the top centre, two dragons with addorsed heads are flanked by two stylized upside down curling birds, whose heads are recognizable by the circle-shaped eyes and curved beaks with an incised line at the centre. The tails of the pair of central dragons are also carved as two additional bird heads, whose crests join right in the middle of the openwork pendant. Two more dragons are carved at the bottom left and right of the pendant: their s-shaped bodies recall the form of the dragon-shaped pendant no.34 in this auction. Although the ornament appears flat, there is actually a very slight sense of low relief to the carved patterns. In fact, eighteen small, bold curls in relief, carved in correspondence to the dragons snouts and ears, mark the points where the truncated limbs of the animals protrude from their bodies. Many additional incised details complete the surface decoration: strips filled with parallel, diagonal lines are incised at the centre of the dragons bodies; etched areas are carved on the tails of the two dragons at the bottom; and sets of equidistant double-incised lines complete the decoration of the animals bodies. The jade is of a translucent darker brownish color in the centre with a more altered, lighter brown, almost beige tint on the outer area. Four plaques of a similar style and jade are illustrated in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, nos For two more additional examples see M. Loehr and L.G. Fitzgerald Huber, Ancient Chinese jades from the Grenville L. Winthrop collection in the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA) 1975, nos.501 and 503. WIDTH: 9.7 cm 寬 9.7 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 8.000,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 4.000,-) 72

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70 33 A SQUARE PLAQUE WITH AN OPENWORK PATTERN OF FOUR SNAKES Eastern Zhou, 5 th - 4 th century BC 鏤空四蛇紋玉佩 - 東周時代, 公元前 5 世紀 - 前 4 世紀 This small ornamental plaque is carved in openwork and slight relief, with a regular pattern of four similar, connecting snakes with undulating, s-shaped bodies, as seen from above. The snakes are comprised within a square frame that is decorated with back to back scrolls carved in low relief and etched areas in between. The underside of the plaque is totally flat and plain, suggesting that it was meant to be seen from one side only, and probably attached or sewn onto something else. The undulating body of each snake attaches to the one next to it, creating a curvy rectangular space in the centre. Their heads, detailed with long, slanting eyes and two pointed ear-like projections, bite the frame of the ornament: the bodies are decorated with incised, parallel lines and terminate in a pointed, curled tail. Near the tail of each snake there is a short bar that connects the body to the frame which works as a strengthening element to avoid breakage of the delicate cut-out pattern. The front side of the jade is more uniformly coloured, with a beige, but mostly brownish tint that has made the jade opaque, while the original ivory colour of the otherwise translucent stone is more visible on the plain back. The design, openwork technique and iconography are typical of jades that were crafted in southern China during the Warring States phase of the Eastern Zhou period, which have mostly been found in tombs of the southern Chu state and culture. However, similar small jade plaques decorated with snakes but not carved in openwork have also been discovered in the 4 th century BC tombs of the kings of the northern Zhongshan state in Pingshan county, Hebei province, whose jades were strongly influenced by designs and motifs that originated in southern China. See, for example, an openwork ornament with four dragons carved around a central ring that was excavated in 1978 from the royal Zhongshan tombs and published in Yang Boda, Zhongguo meishu quanji: yuqi 中國美术全集 - 玉器 (Chinese works of art series: jade) vol.9, Beijing 1986, no.121. One of the closest comparable examples is offered by a ring with an openwork decoration of snakes and dragon-like animals published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.222: the ring is carved from a very similar material and the frame is decorated with the same motif of back to back scrolls. See also a rectangular plaque in openwork with intertwined snakes from the Samuel and Myrna Myers collection, published in J.P. Desroches (ed.), Two Americans in Paris. A Quest for Asian Art, Paris 2016, no.163. Similar snake-like animals are also carved on an openwork ornament in the Harvard Art Museums collections (accession number ) published in M. Loehr and L.G. Fitzgerald Huber, Ancient Chinese jades from the Grenville L. Winthrop collection in the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA) 1975, no.380. WIDTH: 4.9 cm 寬 4.9 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 2.000,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 4.000,-) 74

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72 34 A NICELY CARVED S-SHAPED DRAGON PENDANT WITH AN INCISED PATTERN OF LINKED, SQUARED SCROLLS Eastern Zhou, 4 th -3 rd century BC 龍形玉佩 - 東周時代, 公元前 4 世紀 - 前 3 世紀 This dragon-shaped pendant, with a very simple design and decoration, has a definite character of expression. As with many other similar pendants carved in the Eastern Zhou period, the dragon is carved in profile, with an s-shaped body and a turned back, crested head. Three truncated appendages protrude from the bottom of the body: the tail is bifurcated and a bold curl at the bottom centre is framed by the arched body, which is pierced on top with a central hole for suspension. The dragon is carved from a roughly rectangular piece of jade and the shape of the body is established by cut-out areas that identify the curve in the neck, tail and limbs. The patterns on the surface are divided into three distinct areas. The central, arched portion of the body is filled with linked squared scrolls while the neck and tail have an incised line in the centre and sets of incised double lines. Further lines are incised all along the border of the pendant, and on the head, where they mark the snout and oval eye. The jade is almost totally chalky white with many speckles of brown. There are also some diffused areas in the form of small patches and stripes of an orange color, and a brownish strip on one side of the neck area, where the jade is more polished and probably where the only original and unaltered area remains. The central arched area has a marked slope and the jade is slightly thinner in the area where the suspension hole was drilled. The stone, alteration and surface decoration of this pendant are very similar to those on disc no.36 in this auction, suggesting a common place of origin for the two jades. A very similar dragon pendant, but with completely plain surfaces, is in the Harvard Art Museums: see M. Loehr and L.G. Fitzgerald Huber, Ancient Chinese jades from the Grenville L. Winthrop collection in the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA) 1975, no.429 (accession number ). WIDTH: 12.2 cm 寬 12.2 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 3.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 7.000,-) 76

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74 35 A FULLY DETAILED, RARE, SEMI-CIRCULAR, DRAGON-HEADED HUANG ARCHED PENDANT WITH A PATTERN OF RAISED SCROLLS EASTERN ZHOU, LATE WARRING STATES PERIOD, 4 th - 3 rd CENTURY BC 罕見雙龍頭紋玉璜 - 東周戰國時代晚期, 公元前 4 世紀 - 前 3 世紀 This beautiful huang 璜 pendant is carved as two dragons that share the same arched body. The arch is so accentuated that it really describes half of a circle, a feature that is quite rare for Eastern Zhou pendants of this type. The decoration is identical on both sides. Carved and incised lines define the dragons facial features, while the body is covered with small, regularly spaced spirals in low relief: two plain strips follow the contours of the arch. The heads, carved in profile at each extremity, are finely detailed: the extended snouts, marked with etchings, are only slightly upturned and confer continuity to the simple curve of the pendant. The mouth is open to show four detailed teeth, and a curled tuft of hair extends from the lower jaw. The carving on the snout, cheeks and ears is ever so slightly in relief, giving a more three-dimensional quality to the ornament. A carved curl filled with finely incised parallel lines separates the heads from the body: a central hole for suspension is drilled at the top of the pendant. The pendant is carved from a translucent light green jade with some brownish areas and various patches of heavy calcification on the body and on both of the dragons faces. The majority of huang pendants are carved from sections of rings and rarely have an almost perfect semicircular form as this one. Similar pendants are published in M.K. Hearn, Ancient Chinese Art from the Ernest Erickson collection, New York 1987, no.95, and Na Chih-liang, Chinese Jades: Archaic and Modern from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Vermont/Tokyo 1977, no.110. A huang pendant with similar finely detailed heads was discovered in 1977 in a late Warring States tomb excavated at Yanggong, Chanfeng county, Anhui province: Yang Boda, Zhongguo meishu quanji: yuqi 中國美术全集 - 玉器 (Chinese works of art series: jade) vol.9, Beijing 1986, no.124. WIDTH: 13.9 cm 寬 13.9 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 5.000,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR ,-) 78

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76 36 AN INTERESTING PARTLY CALCIFIED BI DISC WITH A GLASSY POLISH AND AN INCISED PATTERN OF LINKED SCROLLS. Eastern Zhou, 4 th - 3 rd century BC 連雲紋玉璧 - 東周時代, 公元前 4 世紀 - 前 3 世紀 What is most striking about this partially calcified disc is the incredible polish that it retains. The surface is so shiny that it is almost glassy, which is amazing, considering the level of calcification of the jade. The entire disc is decorated with a regular pattern of linked, squared scrolls organized in a grid-like fashion. A thin border runs along the inner hole and the perimeter of the disc, whose surface texture is rather irregular: some areas are smoother than others, notably in the unaltered parts. The thickness of the bi 璧 is also quite irregular, especially on one side, where there is a markedly thinner area that slopes down toward the outer edge. This is also seen on the dragon-shaped pendant no.34 in this auction, which is carved from a similar material and decorated with the same pattern. The jade is of two tonalities of green, with little brownish mottled areas where the object is less altered. Despite the heavy alteration, there is still a small amount of translucency, which can be seen when the disc is held to the light. The disc has a slight nick on the area of the border where the jade is thinner, and a somewhat irregular edge. The pattern of linked scrolls is occasionally seen on late Eastern Zhou jades, particularly discs, though the curls are generally in low relief and not simply incised, as on the present example. A somewhat comparable disc in partly calcified jade was auctioned at Sotheby s Hong Kong on 1 June 2017, sale HK0732, lot 333. Diameter: 10.6 cm 直徑 10.6 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 3.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 7.000,-) 80

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78 37 A POWERFUL HUANG ARCHED PENDANT WITH FINELY DETAILED DRAGON HEADS AND A PATTERN OF RAISED CURLS EASTERN ZHOU, LATE WARRING STATES PERIOD, 4 th -3 rd CENTURY BC 雙龍頭紋玉璜 - 東周戰國時代晚期, 公元前 4 世紀 - 前 3 世紀 This is another beautifully carved huang 璜 that represents two powerful dragons that share the same arched body. The gentle arch is quite different than the pronounced semi-circle of no.35 in this auction, but the decoration, identical on both sides, is similar: it is composed of carved and incised lines that define the dragons facial features, while the bodies are covered with small, carved spirals. The heads, carved in profile at each extremity, have curled upturned snouts, eyes, fangs and tufts of hair, and a cut-out area that describes the open mouths with a carved, overlapping fang. The lower jaws are pointed, with two stylized tufts of hair protruding from the chin, while the two longer tufts that extend from the dragons horns, or ears, separate the head from the bodies: these are decorated with two finely incised lines on the upper tuft and many tiny parallel lines on the ear. Very finely carved grooves outline the eyes, fangs, tufts of hair and the borders of the jade, accentuating the curves of the carving. In the upper curve of the body, there is also a central hole, drilled from both sides, from which the pendant was hung. The pendant is carved from a translucent white jade that has a very slight brownish tinge, except for the areas of the dragons heads, which have turned an opaque white from calcification. There are also traces of soil and some scattered areas of red pigmentation and other greyish, whitish markings, due to alterations in the stone. A similar huang pendant with finely detailed dragon heads is in the Freer/ Sackler Galleries of Art, Washington, D.C., accession number F Compare also a larger huang published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.266 and another one from the Samuel and Myrna Myers collection in.p. Desroches (ed.), Two Americans in Paris. A Quest for Asian Art, Paris 2016, no.116. WIDTH: 12.5 cm 寬 12.5 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 3.000,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 6.000,-) 82

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80 38 A UNIQUE ELEGANT AND DELICATELY CARVED DRAGON-SHAPED XI, OR KNOT-OPENER EASTERN ZHOU, LATE WARRING STATES PERIOD, 4 th - 3 rd CENTURY BC 罕見龍形玉觿 - 東周戰國時代晚期, 公元前 4 世紀 - 前 3 世紀 This highly elegant ornament with a delicately carved dragon is a fine example of a xi 觿, or knot-opener, which gets its name from the shape of the slightly arched body and acuminated tail. The extended body of the dragon is full of curves and embellishments that rise above the top central area, and then gradually decrease in size and quantity towards the two ends, where the long tail and head are carved. The dragon has an elongated snout which counterbalances the tip of the tail at the opposite end of the xi, while the curves at the top are balanced by the two forelimbs. These jut out from the body right after the neck: one turns to the right, where it touches the dragon s ear, and the other turns to the left where it touches the lower part of its body that designs an s-shaped curve just before the tail. This is carved with fine, parallel and slanting grooves that recall the twisted-rope pattern used in the decoration of ring no.25 in this auction. Stylized wings are rendered as curled volutes that extend from the centre of the dragon s body. The originally light green jade, which presents a few slightly orangey areas, has lost its translucency and turned almost totally white and opaque due to calcification. This beautiful pendant matches a dragon-shaped xi which was discovered in 1977 in a late Eastern Zhou tomb at Changfeng Yaonggong, Anhui province: see Yang Boda, Zhongguo meishu quanji: yuqi 中國美术全集 - 玉器 (Chinese works of art series: jade) vol.9, Beijing 1986, no.123. Length: 11.5 cm 長 11.5 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 4.000,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 8.000,-) 84

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82 39 A SUPERB AND EXTREMELY RARE LARGE DRAGON-SHAPED PLAQUE CARVED IN WHITE JADE EASTERN ZHOU, LATE WARRING STATES PERIOD, 4 th -3 rd CENTURY BC 龍形玉佩 - 東周戰國時代晚期, 公元前 4 世紀 - 前 3 世紀 This extraordinary plaque in the shape of a dragon is impressive in size, design and workmanship, and displays the truly high level of artistry of the Eastern Zhou carvers. The s-shaped dragon is presented with a turned-back head, curling and truncated appendages and cut-out areas. Despite the flattened, compressed form, it is nonetheless highly realistic with details and carving techniques that fully express the character, posture and power of the mythical animal. Both sides of the dragon are decorated with the same pattern: the body is engraved with small spirals in relief, referred to as the grain pattern, or gu wen 穀紋 in Chinese, and carved parallel lines in low relief that follow the curves of the crest, tail and appendages. There is a thin, engraved border that follows the contour of the dragon s body, and except for the round, curving tail and head, all the other appendages are truncated. What is most unusual about this particular plaque are the meticulous details and unique additional decorative patterns. The features on the head of the dragon are designed with carved and incised lines: the snout is marked with a scale-like pattern, a flower-like motif is incised on the cheek, and a carved border with finely incised parallel lines separates the head from the body. Further detailed areas include the clearly defined claws, curled appendages and other subtle markings. There are also three conical holes that have been drilled from one side only: two in the crest area on the head and one in the upper area of the jade near the curve of the arched back. Four cut-out areas highlight the open mouth, the central curve of the body and tail, and the area of the bottom limb, which rests on a base. There is also a very small curling snake, almost hidden from sight, incised in the central area of the bottom, near the dragon s lower limb. The snake is framed by additional finely engraved, parallel lines on one side, wider lines on the other side, and carved swirls that decorate the squared-off base. The object is carved from an exquisite white Khotan jade that has maintained its translucency in most areas, except for a brownish strip that runs from the dragon s crest across the bottom area of the base, and a thin line running across the top side. There is also a more concentrated area in the truncated appendage and on the base of the upper curled appendage, as well as some brown and orange speckles, and occasional small whitish and greyish patches: the jade is smoothly polished, except for those areas where the alterations have made them a bit rough to the touch. There are no exact counterparts to this extremely detailed dragon plaque: some of the closest examples are represented by similar jades in the Harvard Art Museums (accession numbers and ), published in M. Loehr and L.G. Fitzgerald Huber, Ancient Chinese jades from the Grenville L. Winthrop collection in the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA) 1975, nos.422 and 427. Length: 20.5 cm 長 20.5 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR ,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR ,-) 86

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84 40 A FINE DISC WITH RAISED CURLS ON THE SURFACE AND A PAIR OF PHEONIXES CARVED ON THE TOP Western Han dynasty, 2 nd -1 st century BC 雙鳳穀紋玉璧 - 西漢時代, 公元前 2 世紀 - 前 1 世紀 Discs embellished with motifs of phoenixes and dragons carved in openwork along the outside border form a category of jades that is often found in Han royal burials. This small disc and no.44 in this auction, flanked on the sides by two phoenixes, belong to this category: they are very similar in style, material and workmanship and most likely share a common place of origin. This disc is adorned with two phoenixes in profile, one in front of the other, with crests on turned back heads that meet at the centre, forming a suspension loop through which the disc could be hung. The pointed beaks are open on two bold volutes which extend from the back and that probably represent short wings. An additional curl is curved below the body of each bird, whose tails terminate in a bifurcated tip. The birds are curved with scooped out areas and engraved cuts of various degrees of depth that give the decoration a sense of relief. The surfaces of the disc are decorated with a pattern of uniformly organized curls: two thin bands carved with slightly bevelled edges mark the inner and outer edges of the disc. The light green jade remains translucent in only a very few small areas due to the extensive calcification and the orange-coloured encrustations on the disc. There are two slight nicks along the edge, just below the curved tail of one of the phoenixes. There are no exact matches for this disc, but in terms of typology, a disc in the Freer/Sackler Galleries decorated on the border with two long-tailed phoenixes provides the best comparative example (accession number F ). Further discs decorated with phoenixes carved along the border are illustrated in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, nos Diameter: 10.6 cm, HEIGHT: 11.4 cm 直徑 10.6 厘米, 高 11.4 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 4.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 9.000,-) 88

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86 41 A LARGE SCABBARD CHAPE IN GREEN JADE WITH AN ENGRAVED DESIGN Han dynasty, 3 rd - 2 nd century BC 玉劍珌 - 漢代, 公元前 3 世紀 - 前 2 世紀 The scabbard chape, a sword ornament of the Han dynasty, was used to protect the tip of the iron sword that was inserted into the hole drilled on one of the flat, plain edges. The present example has the typical trapezoidal shape of these ornaments, with gently curving sides and an elliptical cross-section: the two sides are decorated with a seemingly abstract pattern of interlocking squarish linked scrolls that are placed symmetrically back to back along the central axis, with other scrolls along the side borders. The pattern is actually a highly stylized taotie 饕餮, or animal mask, which on other scabbard chapes of the Han dynasty may also be represented in its entirety. The contour of each single element of the design is stressed by tiny incised lines which balance the t-shaped elements carved in low relief, creating a subtle interplay of forms on each of the two sides. A plain border is carved around the entire central design and a cross-shaped perforation is drilled on the shortest edge. The highly polished jade is translucent and mostly green with diffused alterations in the form of scattered white patches that cover the surfaces. Most of the chape is smooth, except for the altered areas which are a bit rougher. Comparable scabbard chapes decorated with similar motifs include a few in the Freer/Sackler Galleries (accession numbers F , S , S , S ) and one in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (accession number no ). Height: 6.1 cm; Width: 8.4 cm 高 6.1 厘米, 寬 8.4 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 1.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 3.000,-) 90

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88 42 A STRONGLY CALCIFIED BI DISC WITH SCROLLS IN RELIEF Han dynasty, 3 rd - 2 nd century BC 穀紋玉璧 - 漢代, 公元前 3 世紀 - 前 2 世紀 Both sides of this disc are entirely covered with an orderly arrangement of scrolls carved in low relief framed by two very thin, smooth bands that run along the external and internal borders. The original color and quality of the jade are almost imperceptible due to the heavy alteration which has almost totally covered the disc with a patina of chalky white. In the areas that are unaffected by the calcification, the jade appears to have a light green-yellow tone with some residual translucency. There is one small chip that is visible on the perimeter of the disc and some patches of red colour scattered on the surfaces. For similar discs and rings decorated with raised spirals displaying different degrees of alteration of the jade, see the Sotheby s sale of Chinese art held in Hong Kong on 1 June 2017, sale HK0732, lots 316, 338, 342. ol.1, Early Societies), Hebei Meishu Chubanshe, Shijiazhuang 1993, no.122. Diameter 15.4 cm 直徑 15.4 厘米 From a Luxembourg collection 盧森堡舊藏 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 2.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 5.000,-) 92

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90 43 A VERY RARE GREEN CRESCENT SHAPED XI 觿, OR KNOT-OPENER, WITH A COILED DRAGON AND A PATTERN OF ENGRAVED LINKED SCROLLS Early Western Han, 3 rd 2 nd century BC 罕見蟠龍形玉觿 - 西漢代早期, 公元前 3 世紀 - 前 2 世紀 This green crescent-shaped jade is another exceptional example of the early Western Han xi 觿, or knot-opener, and parallels the rarity and quality of the workmanship of the other one presented in this auction, no.38 In concept, the two xi are similar; both of them are carved as a dragon whose body thins and terminates in an acuminated tip, thus, fully integrating the functional aspect of the jade with the decoration. The xi were suspended, probably from the belt, by the cut-outs and holes carved in the section decorated with the dragon s head. Both sides of this xi are decorated in the same manner, with a dragon carved at the wider extremity that is represented as coiled, with a partly twisted body, and as seen from above. The dragon s head, which bites its curled body, is finely detailed: it has a flat snout, round eyes with long eyebrows and a crest which sprouts from between the two large, pointed ears. The long crest, decorated with incised lines, ends in a bifurcated tip and forms a large curl that separates the body of the dragon from the central section of the xi, decorated with a regular pattern of incised, linked scrolls. The overlapping forelimbs of the dragon extend to touch one end of the bifurcated crest: a series of short, parallel incisions on the leg represent the fur. The thin body of the dragon, enriched by curls and marked with a line carved in the middle, bends, then passes in front of the dragon s head and merges with the central section of the xi. The pointed tip of the xi is filled with two slightly raised, drop-shaped motifs adorned with finely incised parallel lines: they may represent the claws of the dragon s paw, as suggested by the comparison with similar motifs carved on the dragon-shaped plaque no.39 in this auction. A narrow, plain strip runs along the edges of the xi, with the exception of the wider end that is decorated with the coiled dragon. The xi is carved from a variety of jade with shades of spinach and light green, and dotted with speckles and small white areas where the stone has calcified. The remains of soil encrustations and red powder are visible within the incised parts of the design. In style and iconography, this xi matches similar jades that have been discovered in the early Western Han tombs excavated in the vicinity of Xuzhou city, in northern Jiangsu province. For three similar, crescent-shaped dragons carved in the Xuzhou style, see F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, nos No.314 in this same volume illustrates a dragon-shaped xi whose pointed extremity is decorated with exactly the same pattern of stylized claws. Length 10.6 cm 長 10.6 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 3.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 7.000,-) 94

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92 44 A FINE ORNAMENTAL BI DISC WITH CARVED PHOENIXES ON THE SIDES Western Han dynasty, 2 nd - 1 st century BC 雙鳳穀紋玉璧 - 西漢代早期, 公元前 2 世紀 - 前 1 世紀 This fine ornamental bi 璧 disc is covered with a pattern of curls and embraced by beautifully carved phoenixes on the sides. In style, material and workmanship it is very similar to the disc with phoenixes on the top, no.40, in this auction. The pattern of raised curls that covers both sides is delimited by plain bands around the inner and outer rims. The two phoenixes are carved in the same elegant posture at opposite points of the disc. The tips of their long crests and tails touch the border of the disc. Various volutes protrude from the bodies of the phoenixes, whose heads are turned back towards a curled volute. Numerous cut-outs help to distinguish the various elements of the design and give an additional lightness to the already delicate pattern. The heavy calcification confers a chalky cream colour to the jade, which is also covered by a light brown patina. A disc published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.337 has two phoenixes carved on the side in a same position. See also a disc with two long-tailed phoenixes decorated on the border in the Freer/ Sackler Galleries, Washington, D.C., (accession number F ). Diameter: 7.9 cm 直徑 7.9 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 2.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 5.000,-) 96

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94 45 AN EXQUISITE PLAQUE IN WHITE TRANSLUCENT JADE FINELY CARVED IN THE SHAPE OF A CROUCHING TIGER Early Western Han, 3 RD - 2 ND CENTURY BC 虎形玉佩 - 西漢早期, 公元前 3 世紀 - 前 2 世紀 This magnificent, rather thick plaque is shaped as a crouching tiger in profile with an open mouth, curly tail and squared off features that truly manifest the strength and power of the animal. The body is decorated with raised curls, while a pattern of bold, randomly oriented joined scrolls is carved on the bulky, back haunches. The front limbs, carved in low relief, are thinner and embellished with only a double line and a few incised, elegant scrolls within that describe the contour. A carved groove highlights the longer extension of the trifurcated tail, also marked with horizontal double incised lines. The features of the head express the fierceness and strength of the tiger: the mouth is open, with a bold jaw and tuft of hair on the chin, and whiskers rendered with thin incised lines; the large, slightly bulging eyes have thick eyelids and the pupil is indicated by an incised circle; the ears have truncated tips and are delineated with thick curls. The overall contour of the animal is highlighted by a plain band. The plaque is carved from a beautiful, thick slab of highly polished white jade. There are some very small patches of brown and black, and an amber strip with some calcification that runs along the bottom and extends upwards along the tail, and also in the other direction, along the face. Noticeable calcification can also be seen in larger sections on the tail and face, while additional small calcified areas can be found on the top edge. There are several tiger-shaped plaques from excavations, as well as in private and public collections, that can be quoted for comparison. However, one of the closest examples is represented by a famous pair of tigers carved from a similar material in the Harvard Art Museums collections, published in M. Loehr and L.G. Fitzgerald Huber, Ancient Chinese jades from the Grenville L. Winthrop collection in the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA) 1975, no.438 (accession number a, b), among many other books. For additional examples of tiger-shaped plaques see F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, nos Length: 10.6 cm 長 10.6 厘米 From an Austrian collection 奧地利老佔有 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 4.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR 9.000,-) 98

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96 backside 46 A RARE AND MASTERFULLY CRAFTED ORNAMENT IN THE SHAPE OF AN ARCHER S RING WITH A LIVELY DRAGON AND A MONKEY CARVED IN FULL RELIEF ON THE SIDES Han dynasty, 1 st century BC - 1 st century AD 罕見龍猴紋韘形玉佩精品 - 漢代, 公元前 1 世紀, 公元 1 世紀 This ornament is truly a rare example of the masterful artistry of the Han jade carvers. Shaped like a shield, the design of this ornament is derived from the outline of rings that were designed to protect an archer s thumb when shooting arrows. During the Han dynasty such archer s rings developed into purely ornamental items embellished with very highly crafted animal motifs, as the one here. The oblong shaped hole at the centre of the pendants and the pointed tips refer explicitly to the outline of archer s rings, but flattened and as if seen from above. A sculpted monkey and a dragon-like creature are carved on the sides of the central, shield-like element. The monkey, perched on the upper external edge of the jade, looks back and holds onto both sides of the top of the jade with its four limbs, while the head of the dragon is carved in the central cut-out area of the oval. The curled crest extends from its head onto the smooth jade base, while the neck curves along the inner border of the cut-out area to the bottom centre where its two front limbs curl upwards, framing the bottom edge. The sculptural body twists and wraps around the jade to the other side where one limb (the other is hidden) attaches itself to the main central section below the cut-out. As the crest on the front, the sinuous tail, which designs an s-shaped curve on the back, also attaches itself to the surface, where it becomes a decoration in low relief. The basic oval shape of the object contrasts with the pointed tip and the long pointed extension on the upper left side of the jade, which is a stylized version of the typical sloping, pointed area on the archer s ring, where the thumb rests. Simple parallel etched lines and single grooves give a minimal decorative hint of the animals features and the movement of the curvy tail. The jade is of a light green colour with a subtle russet tinge and black and white marble-type areas on the body of the dragon-like creature. A very similar carving is in the Samuel and Myrna Myers collection and illustrated in J.P. Desroches (ed.), Two Americans in Paris. A Quest for Asian Art, Paris 2016, no.174. This jade is featured in the book by F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.325. Length 8.5 cm 長 8.5 厘米 From a Luxembourg collection 盧森堡舊藏 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 6.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR ,-) 100

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98 47 A LOVELY SCULPTURAL SWORD POMMEL IN WHITE JADE WITH A CARVED DRAGON Han dynasty, 2 nd century BC 龍紋玉劍首 - 漢代, 公元前 2 世紀 This lovely, sculptural object in white jade with a writhing dragon carved in relief was used as a pommel to decorate the top handle of a sword. Weapon fittings in jade developed during the Eastern Zhou period and reached their climax under the Han dynasty, when entire sets made of several jades were used to embellish the swords of the aristocrats. The top of the pommel is decorated with a sinuous dragon amidst stylized clouds, rendered slightly in relief, as the comma-shaped patterns carved along the border: one of these is bitten by the four-limbed, long-tailed dragon. The underside of the pommel is decorated with a slightly raised pattern formed by two long-crested bird heads amongst stylized clouds that are arranged around a central perforation where the top of the sword handle was inserted. This highly polished pommel is carved from a quality of creamy white jade with limited iron inclusions that create beautiful patches of mixed russet, black and orange. An oval pommel with similar motifs is published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.319. Diameter 7.9 cm 直徑 7.9 厘米 From a Luxembourg collection 盧森堡舊藏 Rufpreis / Starting price EUR 5.500,- (Schätzpreis / Estimate EUR ,-) 102

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