China, c. 4000-3000 BC. The well-polished stone is carved and pierced in the form of an animal mask, decorated with arched brows above circular eyes, and horns which are carved to the top of the curved protruding ears. The details of the face are carefully rendered with thick concave troughs and the bottom of the jade is carved with five teeth. The translucent stone of a deep green tone with russet, dark green, and icy white inclusions.

Provenance: French trade. Previously in an old private estate.
Condition: Very good condition with old wear, minuscule nibbling. Some distinct areas of decomposition and erosion around the edges, as expected from a jade which has been buried for several millennia. Superb naturally grown patina overall.

Weight: 91.6 g
Dimensions: Length 14 cm

Hongshan ‘toothed’ pendants are characterized by a stylized mask carved in the center and a row of double-pointed protrusions at the bottom that resemble the teeth of an animal: the central mask is flanked on both sides by flattened extensions with a straight incision at the center.

Literature comparison:
Compare a jade mask ornament with closely related central design, in the collection of the National Palace Museum (acquisition no. gou yu 272) and illustrated in Art in Quest of Heaven and Truth - Chinese Jades through the Ages, Taipei, 2012, pl. 3-3-28. Compare also a related jade toothed mask ornament, Hongshan culture, in the collection of the Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art, accession number F1991.52.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 28 November 2018, lot 2708
Price: HKD 1,750,000 or approx. EUR 232,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A very rare celadon jade toothed animal mask ornament, Hongshan culture, circa 4000-3000 BC
Expert remark: Note the size (12 cm) and compare the similarly decomposed areas along the edges

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 29 November 2017, lot 2704
Price: HKD 10,900,000 or approx. EUR 1,472,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A very rare green jade toothed animal mask ornament, late Hongshan culture
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and color of the jade. Note the slightly larger size (19.6 cm)



紅山文化末期罕見青玉帶齒動物面紋飾
中國，公元前4000-3000年。青玉表面抛光良好，略帶淺白沁，局部呈現淺褐色。眼部漩渦線條，彎曲突出的耳朵頂部雕刻有角。面部細節厚實，下方一排兩兩相連的尖錐狀牙齒。整體造型古樸。上方有一用於穿繫佩帶的小孔。

來源：法國古玩交易，之前來自一個私人老收藏。
品相：狀況極其好，有舊時磨損，輕微磕損。一些區域在邊緣周圍有明顯的侵蝕，整體極好的自然包漿。

重量：91.6 克
尺寸：長 14 厘米

文獻比較：
臺北故宮博物院 (勾玉272) ，見 《Art in Quest of Heaven and Truth - Chinese Jades through the Ages》展覽中相似紋飾，臺北 2012年，圖 3-3-28；另一件紅山文化帶齒動物面紋飾，見Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art展品，收藏編號F1991.52。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港佳士得，2018年11月28日，lot 2708
價格：HKD 1,750,000（相當於今日EUR 232,000）
描述：紅山文化罕見青玉帶齒動物面紋飾，約公元前4000-3000年
專家評論：請注意尺寸 (12 厘米) and 比較相似的區域侵蝕痕跡在邊緣周圍。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港佳士得，2017年11月29日，lot 2704
價格：HKD 10,900,000（相當於今日EUR 1,472,000）
描述：紅山文化末期罕見青玉帶齒動物面紋飾
專家評論：比較非常相近外型和玉石顏色。請注意尺寸較大 (19.6 厘米)。