A large Chinese ceremonial jade axe blade Large flat blade of light green nephrite jade. Drilled through its center are three holes, each of which decreases in size from the previous to the axe butt. At the neck small piercing (from both sides) for suspension. Polished surface. Intact. Length 37.7 cm. Width 7.2 - 10.4 cm. Weight 1.48 kg. Flat axe blades like this one were made to be put into an elite tomb alongside other luxury items and are known from the Neolithic Longshan culture (sometimes Lung-shan), ca. 2000 to 1600 B.C.Provenance: Form a private collection in Munich, acquired in the 1980s.Condition: II +