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http://objets-d-art-uniques.fineartamerica.com/
Three pieces including the one posted here were apparently for sale and came from the same collection.
This one, "Neolithic Period Hong Shan Culture Jade Carving of Mythical Creature - Neolithic Lapidary Artist
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/neolithic-period-hong-shan-culture-jade-carving-of-mythical-creature-neolithic-lapidary-artist.html
was listed for sale for $ 25,000 and its size was listed as 6.000 x 26.000 cm.
This is a pretty large piece if the size listed is correct. It was described as made of nephrite yellow jade.
Its provenance was listed as: Dr. Mircea Veleanu's collection, the author of the collectors' textbook: "Jade, 5000 BC to 1912 AD, Guide to collectors".
I find there are several things very disturbing about this piece:
(1) I have studied over 1,000 Hongshan or Hongshan style carvings including authentic pieces published on reliable jade books or jade carvings made of similar material as this piece. I can tell by the picture with almost 90% certainty that this piece was not made of yellow nephrite jade, but rather it was made of celadon Xiu Yan (serpentine) jade. Its color was often described by the Chinese jade experts as Qing (pale green) and not as yellow. As a matter of fact, while there are indeed genuine yellow nephrite jade, but they were so rare that even a small piece would be hard to find and one with such a size that was big enough to "carve" this Hongshan rhyton is almost unheard of. If it is indeed made of genuine nephrite, that would be almost impossible for the Hongshan people to dissect it and to hollow it out to form a rhyton. Even with today's modern tools, it would not be that easy.
(2) The carving lines shown in the forming of its eye and on the back of its head look very suspicious upon enlarging them(with the full resolution view feature provided). Those carving lines look like they were made with modern carving tools. The color of the carving lines look white, indicating that this piece can be scratched and therefore was not made of nephrite. Furthermore, the carving lines were made extremely sloppy and are almost an insult to authentic Hongshan carvings. The shape of the eye is also unseen in any of authentic Hongshan carvings.
(3) While there are indeed a few large Hongshan jade carvings but they were extremely rare and were made of unique nephrite material unlike this piece. The jade material and quality of carving of this piece is simply nothing close to the authentic one. The form or style of this piece had not been seen in any excavated Hongshan sites. With such a large piece and to have a seemingly hollow shape (it is supposed to be a rhyton), it is almost far fetching to imagine how the Hongshan people can cut and "carve" (hollow out) such a large piece without the assistance of any metal tools. Also, why would they make such a piece? What is its purpose? I cannot recall seeing any genuine Hongshan rhyton pieces anywhere. (*Now I am saying that somebody will post one here and that would be great.)
In short, I believe this is simply a modern fantasy piece, almost absolutely not made of genuine yellow nephrite jade, but with cheaper modern serpentine that can still be readily found in the Liaoning area. Its quality of carving is simply too inferior to be considered as that of Hong Shan
Of course, I can be wrong since I am not any Hongshan jade expert and if that is the case, I would like to apologize to the owner and seller of this piece in advance.
Thanks.
Bill
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Re: More pieces for sale - an interesting Hongshan rhyton - Mircea Veleanu - Feb 02, 2009 (07:11 PM) 
- Bill - Feb 03, 2009 (09:44 PM)