Lot 35. A celadon jade three-hole plaque, Neolithic period, Hongshan culture (c. 3800-2700 BC); 8.8 cm, 3 ½ in.. Estimate: 80,000 - 100,000 HKD. Lot sold 226,800 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's.

pierced with three perforations of increasing sizes with the outline corresponding in form, the pale celadon stone with light russet inclusions.

Property from the Hei-Chi Collection.

Literature: Jiang Tao and Liu Yunhui, Jades from the Hei-Chi Collection, Beijing, 2006, pp. 24-25.

Note: This type of jade plaque, initially modelled with only two perforations, is believed to originate from the Xinkailiu culture (c. 5300-4800 BC) and continued to be produced in subsequent Northeast prehistoric sites including those of Hongshan culture. A closely related but slightly smaller Hongshan jade plaque (height 6.4 cm) was excavated from Fuxin, Liaoning (Zhongguo yuqi quanji [Complete collection of Chinese jades], vol. 1: Yuanshi shehui [Primitive society], Hebei, 1991, pl. 7). Similar to the present lot, it was probably suspended by a string, resulting in an indentation on the narrower side.