Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 20

Chinese Old Set Three Hand made Jade Bi, Private Collection

About the Item

This is a grouping of three (3) authentic Chinese old jade bi disc from the 20th century. These come from our private collection. Including Our Certificate of Authenticity Dimensions with stands: 4 inches,3.25 inches. and 2.5 inches high Diameters jade bi only: largest is 2.25 inches diameter Older neolithic jades are handmade and hand abraided and hand polished using tools of the time: bamboo, stone, water and stone dust This jade like others were cut and fashioned hand abraided using natural organic string made from vegetation combined with sand paste and water- these were the tools used to abraid and cut hard jade stone. In addition this bi displays a beautiful calcified mineralization from being buried underground for thousands of years. Provenance: Our private collection and accompanied by our Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity. These are genuine ancient artifacts and not reproductions. History: Flat jade discs with a round central hole "bi" are among the earliest surviving artifacts of China and must be considered among great ancient art forms- masterpieces of the Neolithic period. Nephrite jade from which discs were fashioned is a prime hard and strong stone, arduous to work by hand using stone tools and abrasives. It's no wonder then that jade discs bi represent remarkable craftsmanship. While all theories presented to date are speculative, we can forward one Based Upon the warring states text Zhou Li that bi are thought to represent symbols of heaven and were used in ancient rituals together with square tubes cong symbolizing the earth. To worship heaven with a bi explains their importance and use. Bi also symbolize status of high social rank and sheds light on why many carved jades have been found in Zhou royal tombs. They are prominently found in varied qualities, quantities and sizes. Their ritual prominence stretches from the most ancient of Chinese history- Hongshan/Liangzhou/Longshan (4700-2190 BCE)/ Qi Jia cultures and on to the Zhou dynasty (3000-250 BCE) onwards. Today jade bi are emblematic of power, status and privileged classes and offer more complex, varied meaning. Please refer to these excellent publications: Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, exhibition catalogue The British Museum, London, 1995, pp 13ff, and Section 4. And also Radiant Stones Archaic Chinese Jades, the Myrna and Samurai Myers collection, 2000 curated by Filippo Salviati, PhD, entry 14, Bi Disc.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 4.25 in (10.8 cm)Width: 2.25 in (5.72 cm)Depth: 0.125 in (3.18 mm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    20th Century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    South Burlington, VT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1289213324472

More From This Seller

View All
Chinese Set Two Hand Carved Jade Bi
Located in South Burlington, VT
This is a set of two (2) very fine quality (2) authentic Chinese jade bi disc from the 20th century or older. These come from our private collection. Quality: very fine translucen...
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Jade

Chinese Rare Large Yellow Jade Bi Disc with Vibrant Colors
Located in South Burlington, VT
A rare handsome Chinese Heavenly jade Bi disk carved in a rarely found combination of mutton fat yellow and green jade with patches of brown accents in the stone that depict a green ...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Chinese Scholar's Objects

Materials

Jade

Chinese Old Bamboo Slips with Calligraphy Jiandu, 59 Piece Collection
Located in South Burlington, VT
Bamboo and wooden slips - jiandú- were the main media for writing documents in China before the widespread introduction of paper during the first two centuries AD. This substantial group, 59 pieces, of one-of-a-kind slips with painted and applied hand calligraphy appeals to book lovers and antiquity sleuths We believe them to be circa 1900 Qing dynasty and are offering this group from a collection of old works of art. Dimensions: bamboo slips...
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Chinese Pair Year of Rabbit Fine Jade Rabbit Sculptures
Located in South Burlington, VT
China, In commemoration of the year of the rabbit- we are proud to offer these rare carvings. A finely carved pair (2) of antique celadon jade crouching rabbits. These handsome ja...
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects

Materials

Jade

Japanese Old Memorial Stone Seated Buddha, 18 Inches
Located in South Burlington, VT
Simple Memorial Buddha A single stone seated Buddha in meditation and who complacently sits with Kanj engraved to each side of this sculpture Good garden candidate .In Japan, Kṣi...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Stone

Japanese Connoisseurs Collection Fine Antique Smoking Pipes Kiseru
Located in South Burlington, VT
Rare one-of-a-kind collection Japanese Connoisseurs Collection of Five (5) Fine Antique Smoking Pipes, Kiseru. You dont need to be a conn...
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Scholar's Objects

Materials

Bronze, Copper, Sterling Silver, Gold

You May Also Like

Antique Chinese Celadon Green Jade Carving, Triple Vase, Qing Dynasty
Located in New York, NY
An extremely finely carved antique Chinese Qing dynasty, Celadon green triple vase/brush washer with an Imperial Dragon from behind attacking a bird in fro...
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects

Materials

Jade

Chinese Yellow and Russet Jade Mythical Beast, Ming Dynasty or Earlier
Located in Austin, TX
A superb Chinese yellow and russet nephrite jade carving of a mythical beast, Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644) or earlier, China The mythical beast is portrayed with feline features, i...
Category

Antique 17th Century Chinese Ming Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Jade

Chinese Carved Celadon and Russet Jade Mythical Animal, Ming Dynasty or Earlier
Located in Austin, TX
A fine and unusual carving of a mythical animal, possibly a pixiu, of celadon and russet nephrite jade, Ming Dynasty or earlier, China. The mythical animal masterfully carved as a...
Category

Antique 17th Century Chinese Ming Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Jade

Chinese Hand Carved Tigers Eye Stone Libation Cup with Dragon
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine antique/vintage Chinese carved tigers eye stone libation cup supported by a dragon and dating from the early 20th century or possibly earlier. The hard stone cup...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Scholar's Objects

Materials

Stone

Small Bell in Agate, Sculpture, Made in China Early 20th Century, Gray Color
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Small bell in Agathe. This object was made in China at the beginning of the 20th century. It is a small sculpture, which also serves as a bell with a ball e...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Chippendale Scholar's Objects

Materials

Agate

Quality Chinese Scholar Rock
Located in Norwood, NJ
Chinese Scholar stone, Meditation stone, Appreciation stone or Dream stone. All names for this beautiful natural stone that when studied evokes and por...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Scholar's Objects

Materials

Stone

Recently Viewed

View All