This listing is for ONE (1) bangle of the three available matching neolithic circa 3000 BC Chinesearchaic nephrite jade dragon motif bangles shown in the photos.
These beautiful ancient bangles have complex forms with a thick circular design decorated with incised dragon head motifs. The incised decorations extend around the sides of each bangle. There are four dragon heads on each of the bangles.
Buried for millennia prior to being unearthed the natural nephrite jade shows alteration consistent with neolithic artifacts. These features are beautiful with mottled coloration from natural suffusion, grey skin and here and there the delicate original green color of the nephrite peaking through after these thousands of years.
They are heavy weighing respectively 240.6 grams,208.7 grams and 221.7 grams.
Each has an inside circumference of approximately 8 3/8" (213mm).
The hand carved bangles are slightly different widths down the arm measuring 15/16" (23mm), 13/16" (21mm) and 7/8" (22mm).
Such jewelry is rare and highly sought after. This is clearly illustrated by the very rare examples which have sold in the renown auction houses Sotheby's or Christies over many decades.
Each bangle presents beautifully and is without repair. Of course they can be worn as well as displayed and are strong, intact and durable after these 5000 years or so!
The extreme rarity and uniqueness of the dragon design of these special ancient jade bangles would make them a perfect acquisition to any collection of the finest Chinese art or ancient artifacts.
A similar neolithic bangle is held in the Freer Gallery of Art of the Smithsonian Museum Accession Number F1917.141a-b.
An appraisal is included with your purchase of one or several of these rare stone age jewels.
We ship securely worldwide
The photos form part of the description.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT 'FAKE' JADE
Unfortunately, many items represented as Jade both online and elsewhere are not Jade but are actually a variety of other minerals, rocks or man-made materials that to varying degrees look like Jade but are not. These items are are generally regarded as 'fake' jades, even though they might be given misleading names like Peking jade, Dushan jade, Ice jade and so on.
In modern usage Jade is a term that correctly used means either Nephrite Jade or Jadeite Jade and not other materials.
As professional gemmologists, registered valuers, specialist appraisers, jewellery historians, antique and jade dealers with over forty years experience, we have the necessary expertise, qualifications, training and lab facilities to ensure that every Jade item we offer for sale has been fully tested including density testing and is genuine Jade, that is either Nephrite or Jadeite.
We advise collectors, antique dealers, auction houses, insurers and jewellers. We are involved in the management and development of private collections of antiques, antiquities and jewels including important Jades and Asian antiques.
It is the case that in neolithic and ancient China, and ever since, objects have been carved from a variety of hardstones not just Nephrite. However, for those early carvers who had access to Nephrite Jade, it would have been the case that they could readily distinguish Nephrite from the other hardstones by its unique and difficult working properties. In early Chinese cultures that had access to Nephrite, it appears that Nephrite was the preferred material for the the manufacture of certain kinds of ritualistic and other objects. Later, Nephrite came to be associated with the noble moral qualities of Confucianism. Nephrite became the preferred material for the production of important and valuable carved objects, and carved Nephrite objects became the possessions of a priviledged few. During the Qing dynasty, Jadeite from Burma became available to Chinese carvers and by the end of the Qing had become the preferred material for jewellery and many kids of carved objects.
It is also the case that most reproductions of more recent manufacture are made from materials other than Jade, this due to the much higher cost of Nephrite and Jadeite in comparison with that of other materials such as Serpentine and so on.
Of course there is a great deal more to the process of accurately dating antique and archaic jades and identifying reproductions than correctly identifying the material and placing it in context. It is a field too vast to summarize here. It requires an extensive knowledge of and experience examining both genuine archaic and antique jades and reproductions. Some matters for consideration include: are the stylistic features correct for the culture and period, does high magnification reveal period correct carving techniques and tool marks or do these indicate later manufacture, does high magnification and testing reveal period consistent surface changes due to age and prolonged burial or are these absent or are the surface changes that are seen instead consistent with the various artificial processes that may be applied to a later reproduction in order to simulate the surface changes of age and burial. We use our expertise, experience and facilities to carefully assess every object we handle, only those jades that meet the criteria for authenticity and period are offered for sale. In addition, the jade objects we offer for sale on Ruby Lane as Jade must be either Nephrite Jade or Jadeite Jade.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT 'FAKE' ANTIQUITIES AND ANTIQUES
Unfortunately, many items represented as authentic Antiquities are not genuinely ancient objects at all. Instead they are later reproductions, mostly of very recent manufacture, though a few reproductions of ancient objects are much older. Regardless of age if a later reproduction is represented as genuinely ancient then it becomes a 'fake' antiquity.
Likewise, if a later reproduction is represented as genuinely antique then it becomes a 'fake' antique.
It is always wise to deal with experienced and knowledgable dealers who are members of the governing international and national antique and art dealers associations. The membership process involves assessments of the dealer's reputation, industry experience, qualifications and knowledge. Only those meeting these standards are granted membership. Membership formally recognizes the dealer's expertise. Members comply with the associations' codes of practice and guidelines regarding authenticity and reproductions.
We are of course members of the premier national and international associations for antique and art dealers, namely...
- Members of the Confédération Internationale des Négociants en Oeuvres d'Art CINOA
- Members of the Australian Antique and Art Dealers Association AA&ADA
as well as...
- Members of the National Council of Jewellery Valuers NCJV
- Members and Fellows of the Gemmological Association of Australia GAA
- Members of the Society of Jewellery Historians
We advise collectors, antique dealers, auction houses, insurers and jewellers. We are involved in the management and development of private collections of antiques, antiquities and jewels including important Jades and Asian antiques.
