Review6

It was a funeral day in Han Dynasty when these handicrafts were buried down beneath earth. For the following time of over one thousand years, they were only boasts of the tomb owner. As they were sleeping down there, time changes the upper world, but nothing of the treasure in the down world. When shining sunlight breaks up darkness and the dusts of time are wiped off, these jade artworks are glittering again in the people world.

The four pieces displayed here are jade dagger-axe, jade ring, jade pendant and jade wine vessel.

Jade dagger-axe was never for battle use, but for royal honor guard's show only on some important celebrations. Natural stone colors were cleverly used by craftsman in this piece. Did not you see blood on it?

Jade ring is not a finger ring, but an ornament in ring shape mostly for women. This one is an exquisitely wrought jade carving using penetrating skill, which was quite rare in the period of Han Dynasty.

Jade pendant was dedicated to men. No matter he was wealthy or poor, a man often used silk pipe to hang an precious jade pendant or a cheap one down from his waist. From the design of dragon and the complexity of carving, it can be learnt that the owner was some one of very high social rank.

The jade wine vessel is the last straw to tell the tomb owner was a duke or prince under emperor, because even official of high ranks at that time used bronze vessels at most.