Featured artefact, purpose??

found this river pebble with a hole in it and a cross patern in an antique shop. What purpose does it have and is it an artefact or a hammer?? it weigh 4600 grams and is 27 x 19 cm.

 

Try searching: Liangzhu Culture maybe with "stone" or something like that.


The ultimate Liangzhu emblem is composed of a human figure pictured above a mythical beast.

Source->

 

oke thanks, but i can´t find any object like this one only congs and bi discs

 

Quern perhaps.

 

most qeurns are round this is a natural oval river rock possible nephrite jade. me thinks a ritual object? but the cross patern intriques me. beautifull tectile object.

 

this is a closeup of the figures, the lines are so small and thin you can't see them with the naked eye.

 

do you guys think it is from the liangzhu period?

 

it's possible , if the stone is right.
the design seems credible enuf........

but u need to run it by someone who's handled these things....

 

oke but what do you mean by the stone must be right?

 

doesn't that stone have to originate in the cultural area......... not LA..or Iceland ????
Right ?

 

yes i has to come from an area in china and most artefacts are from nephrite jade. i could try to get an opinion of an asian auction house i know.

 

this is a repro much cruder carved https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255614556274

 

I have had a response of the chinese art auction housen and this is what they said: Thank you very much for sending the photos. The photos show that this is a special object. We can include it for you in our next auction with a starting amount (limit) of 100 euros.

 

interesting........ what will u do ?

 

i have decided to keep it because money is just money and gets spent very quickly. My item is unique and will not find another.

 

I would have also kept it. It’s a very cool thing… But that’s not a very good/insightful response from the chinese art auction house. ‘Special object’ they could have at least given you more information on it. Maybe they don’t really know either.. 100 euros start seems low to me for ‘special object’ I would also tried to get other opinions.

 

I have posted the item on asian art forums and this was the response of Mark@imperial
Adams Asian Art
I am not sure what the purpose was for this carving as I do not deal with archaic jades.
However, it's my opinion that this is highly probable to not be jade and most likely serpentine.
It look artificially aged.
Always be very careful with perfect straight lines, circle and curves.
In my opinion it's a fairly new carving and if you can get that price then sell.

 

That’s interesting. Thanks for posting the feedback you got. Your item your decision.

 

It's very interesting, but a quern it ain't. Wrong shape for it. Also, looks kinda small to be a quern...?