Lot 4
20th C. Chinese Nephrite Jade Bi Disc - Qijia Style
20th C. Chinese Nephrite Jade Bi Disc - Qijia Style
Starting Bid: $1,700
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East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty to Republic Period, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A finely carved nephrite jade bi disc, its circular symmetry and restrained surface quietly echoing the spiritual elegance of Neolithic predecessors. Fashioned from a smooth, variegated stone in hues of mossy green and russet-brown, the disc recalls both the enigmatic jade relics of the Liangzhu culture and the sober minimalism of later Qijia traditions. With its broad, flat body and precisely drilled central aperture, the form itself becomes an homage to antiquity - a visual meditation on cosmology, time, and ancestral veneration. Though made in the early 20th century, likely during the waning years of the Qing or into the Republican era, this bi disc draws directly from ancient precedents. Size: 8.5" Diameter (21.6 cm)
The lack of ornament and creamy calcified inclusions evoke the sparse surfaces seen on Western Zhou and Qijia examples, prized for their austerity and symbolic depth. While the smooth finish and neatly executed perforations for string repair suggest modern tools, the spirit of the piece rests firmly in revivalist scholarship and a reverence for the archaic. Broken and carefully restored with stitched black cord at the top and base, the disc wears its fracture with quiet dignity. Such visible mending speaks to a modern aesthetic that values continuity over concealment - a philosophical nod to the Confucian and Daoist reverence for jade as a vessel of endurance, harmony, and eternal principle. These discs were often created for scholars or collectors deeply immersed in the aesthetics of the past, serving not as funerary items but as objects of study, reflection, and cultural continuity.
Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection, acquired from Arts du Monde, imported into the US prior to 2000
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#195437
- Condition: Repaired from two pieces as shown with some small chips and abrasions in areas. Otherwise, smooth surface and very nice presentation. Old collection labels on one side.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |