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China, c. 3300-2200 BC. The thick-walled cong, of cylindrical form with square projections on four corners, each corner carved with stylized masks comprising twin bands of narrow parallel grooves above incised circular ‘eyes’ and a short, raised band with rounded ends for the ‘nose’. The opaque, calcified stone now of an ivory-white tone with deep veins and mottles of russet.
Provenance: Daniel Milano, Paris, France, 2003. Collection of Paolo Bertuzzi, acquired from the above. A copy of the original invoice from D Milano, dated 3 March 2003, addressed to Paolo Bertuzzi, and stating a purchase price for the present lot of EUR 4,800 or approx. EUR 7,500 (adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompanies this lot. Paolo Bertuzzi (1943-2022) was a fashion stylist from Bologna, Italy. He was the son of Enrichetta Bertuzzi, founder of Hettabretz, a noted Italian fashion company with customers such as the Rothschild family, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. Paolo Bertuzzi later took over his mother’s business and designed exclusive pieces, some of which were exhibited in the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA. He was also an avid collector of antiques for more than sixty years. His collection includes both archaic and contemporary art, and he edited two important books about Asian art, Goa Made - An Archaeological Discovery, about a large-scale archaeological project carried out with the Italian and Indonesian governments, and Majapahit, Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age, with ancient wear, natural age-related imperfections, including evidence of calcification and small fissures, some of which have developed into hairlines. Expected traces of weathering and erosion. A notable chip to the upper rim, with additional minor chips and minute nibbles along the base.
Weight: 1,256 g
Dimensions: Height 14.5 cm
The Liangzhu culture and its remarkable jade artifacts came to prominence in the late 1980s, when the discovery of several significant cemeteries brought international attention to the richness of their tomb contents. Since then, a wave of new archaeological findings has dramatically transformed our understanding of this late Neolithic civilization. At the Mojiaoshan site, Chinese archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a vast, walled settlement covering 750 acres. This site, the largest known walled settlement from late Neolithic China, includes palatial foundations, jade workshops, habitation zones, and a sophisticated network of internal waterways.
Distinguished by their quantity, variety, and superb craftsmanship, Liangzhu jades are among the most iconic artifacts in the history of Chinese civilization. Among them, the jade cong stands out as the most emblematic. These objects feature a square exterior surrounding a circular inner hollow, with each corner serving as a vertical axis for the carving of symmetrical mask motifs. Early examples are typically squat and intricately decorated with deities or animal forms. In contrast, later versions are tall and slender, with stylized facial features dominated by prominent eyes and noses.
The present cong is incised with three horizontal tiers featuring ‘crowned divine figure’ motifs. Two parallel lines above each figure signify the crown, while short horizontal ridges, engraved with swirling cloud patterns, depict the nose. The eyes consist of double circles connected by short, intermittent incised lines, with two short extensions on either side to mark the corners of the eyes.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related one-tiered jade cong, Neolithic period, Liangzhu culture, c. 3300-2250 BC, 4.5 cm high, in the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, accession number F1916.118.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 27 November 2019, lot 2719
Price: HKD 31,325,000 or approx. EUR 4,000,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing.
Description: An extremely rare three-tiered jade cong, Neolithic period, Liangzhu culture
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of carving with similar decoration, and color of the stone. Note the smaller size (7.8 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s London, 4 November 2021, lot 385
Estimate: GBP 250,000 or approx. EUR 350,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare calcified jade cong, Neolithic period, Liangzhu culture
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of carving with similar decoration, and color of the stone. Note the smaller size (6.3 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Zacke Vienna, 11 September 2025, lot 218
Price: EUR 104,000
Description: A rare tiered mottled jade cong, Neolithic period, Liangzhu culture
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of carving with similar decoration, and color of the stone. Note the slightly larger size (17.3 cm).
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