Page 20 - Bonhams Hong King May 30 2017 THE SONGZHUTANG COLLECTION OF EARLY JADES

Typical of Liangzhu Culture cong, the present lot has a square outer 玉琮經沁蝕全器色黑如漆。長方柱體，外方內圓，外表分五節，每節
section around a circular inner part, decorated with stylised masks 以四角為中線，飾以簡化獸面紋，整體製作規整，紋飾對稱和諧，拋
arranged neatly on each of the four corners. The beauty of the present 光精細，值得收藏。
cong is highlighted by the lustrous brilliant black tone which has been
altered in the course of its long burial. 學術界對於良渚文化玉琮用途眾說紛紜，但從出土遺址所發現的隨葬
玉琮之數量足以顯示玉琮在良渚文化玉器羣中的特殊地位。北京故宮
Although the precise meaning and use of the cong is not entirely 博物院藏一件良渚文化玉琮（高14.8厘米），墨綠玉質，共五節，與
clear, it was found in extensive numbers in Liangzhu tombs and thus 本器類似，見《故宮博物院藏品大系：玉器編1：新石器時代》，北
these are believed to be an important burial and ritual artifact. The 京，2011年，頁76，圖版31。另參考一件良渚文化青玉琮，也是分
importance and value of the present lot is further indicated by its 為五節，尺寸較此琮小(高14.6厘米），1973年出土於江蘇省武進縣寺
substantial weight and solidity. 墩，見《良渚文化玉器》，香港，1989年，頁39，圖版50。

Compare an example of a jade cong also carved with five registers
of stylised masks (14.8cm high), Neolithic period, Liangzhu Culture,
illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade
1 Neolithic Age, Beijing, 2011, p.76, pl.31. See another slightly smaller
jade cong (14.6cm high), also decorated with five registers, excavated
in 1973 from Sidun in Wujin, Jiangsu Province, illustrated in Liangzhu
wenhua yuqi, Hong Kong, 1989, p.39, pl.50.

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