Jade Handle/Axe?

Hell! I am at a loss trying to identify this piece, does anyone recognize it? I was told it is made up of Jade and do see evidence of that. Thank you for any insight you may have!

 

Interesting thing. Im doubtful of this but will wait for the knowledgeable people to respond.

 

Chinese jade Ceremonial Axe, you would need an expert to see if it was antique.There are a number of them which are probably newer on Etsy for $50 plus.

 

It looks like a metal replica, rather than jade. But photos can be deceiving.

 

Ditto. Inspired by Chinese Archaic styles, but a mix of styles, and not of any specific historic period.

The animal is based on a "pig dragon", with an upturned nose. Pig dragons are only seen in the Hongshan culture, but axes like this are not Hongshan. There are very few pig dragon artifacts, and none are remotely like this

 

Interesting information. Thanks for sharing your knowledge

 

The patina is odd.

 

The paint looks to be made of white milk paint, or at least, made to resemble old white milk paint. It does look like stone to me too..

 

Does a magnet stick? In which case it is iron (which is what it looks like to me). Or it may be bronze/copper, it which case it would not be magnetic.

 

I do not believe that is paint, rather dirt. I have not cleaned it at all but for this post I just wiped it with a wet paper towel and it comes off. Magnets do not stick, I have attached a couple more photos.

 

Is it a carved bone?

 

It is pretty heavy.

 

It does look like it could be organic, doesn't it.

 

Yes in the close up! Prior to seeing that, I was just going off of what OP mentioned about it being sold as "jade" (which it is probably not, now that I see the close up).

 

I will need to get the material tested somehow. When tapped, it does not sound like bone and in the picture it is hard to tell but it definitely has a greenish tint on the few exposed spots.

 

I am tempted to clean it because it seems to have layers of debris but do not want to mess up the integrity.

 

I wouldn't touch it.

First step is to ascertain what material it is.
The seller said jade, can you take it to a jeweller or gemologist to have it tested? Or do you know someone with a gem tester?

 

When shining a light close up, it appears to be too translucent to be bone.

 

I called someone local and left a voicemail about getting it tested but have not heard back.

 

That brings us closer to jade. Many jade replicas etc have been coming out of China over the last few decades. They're often sold as antique.

Oh good. Not that you haven't heard back, but you probably will.