China, c. 1200 BC. Remarkably well carved, the figure faces forward, kneeling with an upright posture, hands resting on knees. The bold facial features include large eyes, a broad nose, and full lips, topped by a pierced tubular headdress. The figure wears robes open at the chest, adorned with thread-relief designs of stylized beasts and scrolls, secured by a matching patterned belt at the waist. Each of the arms is pierced with a small aperture.

The semi-translucent stone is of a fine white tone with russet and brown speckling, gray inclusions, and creamy patches of opaque calcification.

Provenance: From the collection of David Taylor (1876-1958), passed down through the Taylor family to his descendants. David Taylor (1876-1958), a prominent British businessman based in Belfast, owned several commercial properties and a substantial portfolio of stocks and shares. During his travels to East Asia in the early 20th century, he acquired numerous jades, including the present lot. His grandfather, Sir David Taylor (1815-1904), was born in Perth, Scotland, and relocated to Belfast in 1842, where he served as mayor in 1867, and again in 1883 and 1884.
Condition: Superb condition, commensurate with age. Ancient wear, signs of weathering and erosion, soil encrustations indicating a prolonged period of burial, tiny nibbles. The stone with natural fissures, some of which have developed into small hairline cracks.

Weight: 14.4 g
Dimensions: Height 6.3 cm

Kneeling figures like the present lot are among the rarest jade artifacts from the Shang dynasty. A closely related example, with similar features, was discovered in the tomb of Lady Hao, dated to around 1200 BC, suggesting that this piece was likely created during the same period. While the precise identification and function of these kneeling figures remains speculative, Jessica Rawson writes “they are likely to have been extremely valuable and to have offered Fu Hao some sort of power or access to power” (see Mysteries of Ancient China, London, 1996, page 108).

Regarding the kneeling jade figure from the Tomb of Fu Hao, Ai Weiwei observes that “Some people believe this small carving represents Fu Hao herself, but I see it as more mythological than memorial in function — a ritual object connected to a higher power” (see It Speaks to Me: Art That Inspires Artists, 2019). This interpretation underscores the enigmatic role such figures played in Shang dynasty rituals and beliefs.

The Tomb of Fu Hao is an important archaeological site located at Yinxu, the ruins of the ancient Shang dynasty capital Yin, within modern-day Anyang in Henan Province, China. Discovered in 1976 by archaeologist Zheng Zhenxiang, the tomb was identified as the final resting place of Queen and military general Fu Hao, who died around 1200 BC. Fu Hao is believed to be the Lady Hao mentioned in oracle bone inscriptions by King Wu Ding and one of his many wives. The tomb contained an extraordinary array of artifacts, including 755 jade objects, which encompassed both contemporary Shang jades and older pieces from the Longshan, Liangzhu, Hongshan, and Shijiahe cultures. Notably, the Tomb of Fu Hao is the only Shang royal tomb discovered intact, with its contents undisturbed, likely due to its remote location, far from other known burial sites. This pristine condition has provided invaluable insights into Shang dynasty culture and the significance of jade in their ritual practices.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2 April 2019, lot 3412
Price: HKD 1,000,000 or approx. EUR 122,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An extremely rare white and russet jade ‘kneeling figure’, Shang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the similar modeling, carving style, pose, thread-relief decorations, and the pierced aperture at the back of the head. Note the jade's different color and the significantly smaller size (4 cm).

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