Lot 93: A CHINESE ARCHAISTIC CARVED JADE TAOTIE MASK PENDANT, 18TH/19TH CENTURY.
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This carved jade plaque or pendant is fashioned from nephrite of a pale celadon to yellowish-green tone, featuring areas of opaque white calcification and minor dark inclusions. The piece is worked in low relief and incised with a stylized taotie or mythical beast mask, an iconography associated with early Chinese jade traditions. The upper edge displays serrated notches and scrolling crests. Facial features include large oval eyes beneath broad eyebrows decorated with fine diagonal cross-hatching, with additional scrollwork along the lower section and sides. The pendant is designed for suspension with a central circular aperture, an integral loop at the top centre, and two smaller holes near the bottom outer corners. The reverse side remains relatively flat and unworked, showing the natural grain of the stone, surface scratches, and faint tool marks from the grinding process.
Approximately 4.8 x 3.5cm
Condition report:
The item is in good stable condition. It shows surface wear, minor scratches, and natural inclusions consistent with the archaistic style and material. The edges are irregularly shaped by design. No significant chips or fractures are immediately apparent.
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