Three jade blades, Shang dynasty (1600-1100bc)

the first of a deep green tone with areas of creamy alteration to the stone, of flattened broadening form with a slightly concave cutting edge, drill hole to slender end; a creamy beige toned altered blade, of wide flattened form with pointed tip, bevelling to its wide surface, with incised end detailing and large drill hole to the tang; a brownish green toned blade with patches of creamy toned alteration to the stone, the broad blade with bevelled edges, three drill holes and a partial drill hole to flattened end -- the first, 7in. (7.7cm.) wide. (3). Est. £3,000 - £5,000. Price Realised £27,500

Provenance First: Acquired prior to 1966; Second: C.T. Loo & Co., New York. Frank Caro, New York, 1964; Third: Acquired prior to 1966.

Exhibited: Second: 4000 Years of Chinese Art, Wandsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Connecticut, November 1958; C.T. Loo & Co., An Exhibition of Chinese Archaic Jades, at Norton Gallery of Art, West Palm Beach, Florida, 20 January - 1 March 1950, pl. VIII, no. 1, illustrated.

Christie's. Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art & Textiles. 15 May 2009. London, South Kensington www.christies.com