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About this work
Jade carving, a sophisticated Chinese art form, began in the late Neolithic period, 5000-2000 BCE. Translucent jade, highly revered, has been used for ritual and ornamental purposes in China ever since. Associated with Hongshan culture burial rituals (c. 4500-2700 BCE), these hollow, hoof-shaped ornaments frequently found near the person’s head are considered to be hair ornaments. Jade, which was difficult to source and extremely hard, could only be shaped by arduous grinding with abrasives. The intensive time and labour required to hollow out a substantial jade block reflects the significance of this object, most likely as the property of an elite social group. Following burial, the nephrite jade has calcified.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
China
Accession Number
AS15-1975
Department
Asian Art
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation