Lot 1. A large Neolithic jade ceremonial blade, Neolithic period (4th-2nd millenium BC); 31.5cm (12 3/8in) long. Sold for 25 000 €. Photo Fabrice Gousset.

Of tapering rectangular form, terminating in a pointed blade end, the finely polished stone of dark grey-green hue with rich creamy russet mottled inclusions, a neatly cut circular aperture to the upper section.

Provenance: Robert Rousset, Paris (1901-1981), acquired prior to 1935.
Jean-Pierre Rousset, Paris (1936-2021).

Note: Jade ge of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties were mainly used for ceremonial purposes. A significant number of jade ge were found in the tomb of Fu Hao, at Yinxu in Anyang, Henan Province, demonstrating the importance of the ge ritual blades during the Shang dynasty. Compare with a related white jade dagger blade, Erlitou culture, illustrated by A.Forsyth and B.McElny, Jades from China, Bath, 1994, p.164, no.75.

Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr Paris. The Robert and Jean-Pierre Rousset Collection of Asian Art: A Century of Collecting - Part 1. Paris, 25 october 2022