A set of ancient jade ornaments comprising 10 tubular jade beads strung with turquoise beads, a small slit ring (jue), a small disc (bi)and a small huang. All purchased in Hangzhou and purportedly from the Liangzhu Culture (3300-2300 BC) The stone, patina, and shape of the items do resemble Liangzhu artefacts so there is a good chance that these are of the period. Also Hangzhou is the site of Liangzhu culture makes the possibility more likely.
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| Set of ancient jade ornaments |
The ten tubular beads are interspersed with turquoise beads which may not be from the same timeline.
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| Ten tubular beads with turquoise beads |
According to research the slit ring or jue (2.3cm) on left is an ear ornament and are often strung with the bi disc (2cm) on right and huang below
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| Slit ring (jue) and small bi (disc) |
The small arch shaped huang measures 5cm and must have been part of a longer necklace. Each end of the huang is drilled with a hole and a groove.
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| Jade huang with hole and groove at both ends |
The hole and groove at both ends may represent they eyes and mouths of a dragon. Later versions of jade huangs have dragon carvings at both ends so this may be an early version. This is entirely my own conjecture.
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| Looks like an eye and a mouth |
Unlike large ceremonial ritualistic objects of the Neolithic period, these ornaments are small and minimalist but have a life of their own If these beads and ornaments were exhibited in a museum, would they be arranged as below ?
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| Museum display |
I don't have enough beads and ornaments to string into an elaborate strand but still managed to make quite a decent one. :)😊
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| Strung as a strand |
