A VERY LARGE ARCHAIC JADE AXE, YUE Neolithic Period, Qingliangang Culture, 5th-4th Millennium BCTHE PROPERTY OF A BRITISH FAMILY英國家族藏品A VERY LARGE ARCHAIC JADE AXE, YUENeolithic Period, Qingliangang Culture, 5th-4th Millennium BCThe blade of flat and semi-rounded form with a gently bevelled cutting edge, pierced through with a large aperture towards the narrower end, the pale stone of mottled buff taupe tone with grey, russet and white striations. 17cm (6 6/8in) long.新石器時代，青蓮崗文化，公元前五千至四千年 玉鉞Provenance: Roger Keverne Ltd., LondonA British private collection Published, Illustrated and Exhibited: Roger Keverne Ltd., Summer Exhibition, London, 2008, no.67來源：倫敦古董商 Roger Keverne Ltd.英國私人收藏展覽著錄：Roger Keverne Ltd.，《夏季展覽》，倫敦，2008年，編號67According to Jessica Rawson, during the Liangzhu Culture there were two slightly different forms of axe that seen to have been used concurrently. One type has square form and sharp corners, while the other has large central hole and rounded semi-circular cutting edge. The latter might derive from the Songze Culture (3800-3300 BCE), to which the present lot may belong or be inspired. See J.Rawson, Chinese Jade: From the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, p.173.Compare with three related jade axes, Neolithic period, Liangzhu Culture, in the British Museum, London, illustrated by J.Rawson, Chinese Jade: From the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, pp.173-175, pl.10:10. Another similar jade axe, Neolithic period, is illustrated by A.Forsyth and B.McElney, Jades from China, Bath, 1994, no.56.sold_price_type: £