Lot 21, Auction 3/19/2026: Neolithic Hongshan Jade Zoomorphic Face Pendant

$455.00

In stock

East Asia, China, Neolithic period, Hongshan culture, ca. 4700 to 2900 BCE. A refined jade pendant carved as a stylized zoomorphic face, attributed to the Neolithic Hongshan culture of northeastern China. The form is compact and carefully balanced, with softly rounded contours that give the face a quiet but compelling presence. The mask-like visage features large circular eyes drilled deeply into the surface, a broad nose, and a simplified mouth rendered through shallow carving. Subtle ridges and incised lines define the brow and cheeks, suggesting an animal or hybrid being rather than a naturalistic creature. The overall abstraction reflects the Hongshan preference for symbolic clarity over literal detail. Size: 1.5″ W x 1.6″ H (3.8 cm x 4.1 cm)

Carved from pale green jade with natural inclusions and areas of russet staining, the stone retains a smooth polish that would have required considerable skill and time using Neolithic tools. Jade held profound spiritual significance for Hongshan communities, associated with power, protection, and communication with the ancestral or supernatural realm.

Zoomorphic face pendants such as this are believed to have functioned as ritual ornaments, worn on the body or suspended as talismans. Their imagery likely conveyed cosmological meaning or clan identity, bridging human and animal forces in early Chinese belief systems. This pendant stands as a compelling example of Hongshan jade artistry and the enduring visual language that would shape Chinese art for millennia.

Condition: Weathering to surface with softening of detail, but, otherwise, intact, excellent, and wearable.

Provenance: private Dallas, Texas, USA collection, acquired in August 2022; ex-Auctions 4 America Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

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A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all purchases.

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