Certified long Archaic magnificent Chinese Jade belt buckle, Age: Attributed to early Chinese Dynasties: -Xia (2100-1600 BC); Shang (1600-1046 BC); Zhou Dynasty (1045-256 BC); Length: 8.2 inches = 21 cm; Thickness: 28 mm; Width: 1.25 in. = 35 mm; Weight: 4 oz. = 111.27 g; Microscopic research at x50 and x 200 magnification: marks of ancient tools and natural jade aging. Condition: used, well preserved, hand-carved, no defects; Provenance: from private collection in Florida, USA; Review of the Literature and Discussion: The belt hook was initially a dress accessory, but eventually became a collector item. A few jade hooks have been found at a Lingzhou site (34002250 BC), Neolithic culture. Belt hook was at its most widespread during the Eastern Zhou period (770-256 BC). Traditionally, the Chinese people tied knots to fasten their clothes. Belts were used tighten loose robes, mainly to facilitate movements, especially in outdoor activities. The stud on the back of the hook would would have been pushed through a slit on one end of the belt, while the other end would be equipped with a ring could be inserted into the hook.In Northern Song era , scholars avidly collected ancient jade or bronze belt hooks. By 17th century, belt hooks were put to a number of novel uses: elegant picture hooks on the wall or brush rests on scholars desks.Qing dynasty robes for men were not as loose as those of of the preceding Ming dynasty, and there is a very little pictorial evidence to show that belt hooks were worn as a clothing accessory.Although it was a considerable amount of jade hooks made in 18th and 19th century, they were made only to satisfy collecting craze of that era.since the hook was not intended to be worn, the gap between the dragon's head and the chi is very small.Another characteristic of Qing workmanship is that the chi is raised above the body of the hook to a level almost parallel wit the dragon's head. Conclusion:1) The hook in our auction is really worn and made to wear a clothing as a practical accessoires; 2) This hook has traces of ancient tools and signs of being buried for several hundred years; 3) There is a high probability that the hook in this auction was made in Eastern Zhou Dynasty 770-256 BC.
This jade hook is accompanied by certificate of authenticity.
Condition: used, well preserved, hand-carved, traces of ancient tools, no defects;
Low Estimate: 30000.0;
High Estimate: 60000.0;
Original: Yes;
Circa: 770-256 BC;