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Cylinder (cong)

Cylinder (cong)

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 2500 BC (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Nephrite jade, carved

  • Credit Line:

    Purchased with the assistance of The Art Fund, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee

  • Museum number:

    A.46-1936

  • Gallery location:

    On Display

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A 'cong' is a jade tube that is square on the outside with a round perforation in the middle. An ancient Chinese text entitled ' Zhouli' ('Rituals of Zhou') describes the 'cong' as a ceremonial object to sacrifice to Earth. However, the 'cong' was made at least a thousand years before the 'Zhouli' was written and its function in prehistoric times remains unknown.

Physical description

Dark green with brown marking. A cong of 15 sections, drilled from both ends, the meeting point in the middle is no more than 3cm in diameter. One of the tallest cong known to date. On the collar (called she in Chinese) at the top is incised the faint outline of the wings and head of a bird. However it is not done in short, repeated strokes as in the case of A42-1936 bi.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

ca. 2500 BC (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Nephrite jade, carved

Dimensions

Height: 43.2 cm

Descriptive line

Cylinder (cong), Jade, China, ca.2500 BC

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Rose Kerr (ed), Chinese Art and Design, London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1991, nr.6, photo pp. 32-33.
Ming S.Wilson, 'Liangzhu Jades Rediscovered' in Oriental Art, Winter 1995/96, pp.2-8.
Ming Wilson, Chinese Jades, 2004, no.5

Exhibition History

John Ayers and Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade throughout the Ages (Victoria and Albert Museum 01/01/1975-31/12/1975)

Labels and date

Tube (cong)
Stone Age
About 2500 BC

A cong is square in section with a round hole bored through its centre.

Carved nephrite jade
Liangzhu culture, south China

Museum no. A.46-1936 [2007]

Production Note

Liangzhu culture
James Watt opinion 11/6/1987: Neolithic. Unique in that only one he knows of that is unfinished, i.e had blocked in end.

Materials

Jade

Techniques

Carved

Categories

Ceremonial objects

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O39383
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