12.8 cm. (5 in.) long

A small jade hand - axe of pebble form. The smoothly rounded stone is carved with a sharp edge to the bottom. The semi - translucent stone is of yellowish green tone with some russet marking to the top._x000D_
This small hand - axe represents a tool in its most rudimentary form. The stone is smoothly polished through usage and the pebble - like form fits the hand most comfortably. Although the lack of ornamentation makes it difficult to date this jade axe, simple forms such as this are known to have existed in the earliest part of the Neolithic period. A comparable simple black jade tool is in the collection of Joseph E. Hotung.( IpYee,Chinese Jade Carving, Hong Kong Art Museum, Urban Council, Hong Kong, 1983, no. 3, pp. 44 - 45)_x000D_
Provenance:_x000D_
A Hong Kong private collection

Price estimate:
HKD: 80,000 - 120,000
USD: 10,200 - 15,300

Auction Result:
HKD : 94,400