Jade bangle (Zhuo)
Neolithic
Southeast China
3500-2000 BCE
Its surface is a delicate interplay of greens and browns, with black mottled staining scattered throughout. Some believe that the black mottled staining may have been caused by being buried with mercury in a tomb.
This could mean that it was intended to serve as a talisman, imbued with mystical properties to protect its owner in the afterlife. It is not uncommon to find jade objects in ancient Chinese tombs, as they were considered to have symbolic significance and value.
Provonance: Stewart Giles (1951-1993) private collection, acquired in London between 1978 and 1982, then by family descent
£9,000