Lot 2708. A very rare celadon jade toothed animal mask ornament, Hongshan Culture, circa 4000 -3000 BC; 4 ¾ in. (12 cm.) wide. Estimate HKD 150,000 - HKD 200,000. Price realised HKD 1,750,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2018

The well-polished stone is carved and pierced in the form of an animal mask. It is decorated with arched brows, circular eyes, and horns. The details of the face are carefully rendered with thick concave troughs and the bottom of the jade is carved with segmented sections representing the teeth of the animal, box.

Provenance: Acquired from E Yuan Tang Chinese Art, Taipei, prior to 1999.

Literature: Aurora Art Museum, Jades of Hongshan Culture, 2007, Taipei, pl. 111, p. 167.

Exhibited: Chang Foundation Museum, Ancient Jade from the Yangde Tang Collection, Taipei, 27 January-24 April 1993.

Christie's. Chinese Archaic Jades from The Yangdetang Collection PART II, Hong Kong, 28 November 2018