Jade. China, Early Bronze Age, Qijia Culture, c. 2200-1600 BC 玉斧- 青銅器時代早期, 齊家文化, 約公元前 2200-1600年 This trapezoidal blade, carved in a fine variety of whitish jade, is an example of the type of jade axes that were manufactured by cultures located in central and northwestern China, like Qijia. The blade has a pronounced rectangular, tablet-shaped profile, and the edges are smooth but not rounded. The thickness diminishes as it extends towards the bottom, slightly beveled edge. The hole to secure the axe onto the handle was drilled from one side only and the surface is polished. The sheer simplicity of this blade and the exquisite quality of jade renders it extremely elegant. The many inclusions of the whitish jade, which probably came from sources in the north-western province of Qinghai, are revealed when the blade is held to a strong light. A somewhat similar blade of more rectangular shape was excavated at the Lajia site, Minhe county, Qinghai province and is illustrated in Gu Fang, Zhongguo gu yuqi tu dian 中國古玉器圖典 (The pictorial handbook of ancient Chinese jades), Beijing 2007, p.99. Compare also a blade of similar shape and dimensions but much darker in colour published in F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, no.126. Provenance: From an Italian collection LENGTH 17 CM - UPPER WIDTH 5.5 CM-LOWER WIDTH 7.5CM 長 17 厘米 –上 寬 5.5厘米- 下 寬 7.5厘米 Expertise: Univ. Prof. Filippo Salviati All jades in this catalogue have been professionally examined, authenticated and dated by Univ. Prof. Filippo Salviati. Professor Salviati teaches Chinese and Korean art at Sapienza University in Rome, in the Italian Institute of Oriental Studies. He is a world expert on archaic Chinese jades, having released multiple publications and being cited by renowned auction houses such as Sotheby’s.