The design of a human face is incised on only the front side; the simple features of eyes, nose, rectangular mouth are slightly raised as cut from stencil; slightly convex; pale brown jade, calcified partially; two pairs of holes in the back along the edge

Ornament decorated with human and beast masks, 3300-2000 BCE

Unknown artist, expand_more

The semicircular ornament bears a depiction of a stylized human face with only a pair of eyes but detailed, striated hair. Below is a beast mask dominated by two large almond-shaped eyes with pupils, a broad nose, and a mouth. This ornamentation is typical of divine figures on jades from the Neolithic Liangzhu culture, which flourished in the present-day lower Yangzi River delta. The design on this jade is a simpler form with neither bodies of humans nor beasts. Two pairs of holes along the edge of the plain back allowed it to be attached to other objects. Several semicircular ornaments with similar designs unearthed from Fanshan, the Neolithic site in Zhejiang, were found located near the deceased’s head, an indication that they might have served as hair ornaments.

Details
Title
Ornament decorated with human and beast masks
Role
Artist
Accession Number
50.46.230
Curator Approved

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The design of a human face is incised on only the front side; the simple features of eyes, nose, rectangular mouth are slightly raised as cut from stencil; slightly convex; pale brown jade, calcified partially; two pairs of holes in the back along the edge