頭部或首是動物身體上最重要的部位, 動物的識別往往從頭部確定, 因此, 中國古玉器經常以龍鳳等頭部為主要圖騰或紋飾, 也就不足為奇了. 本文的玉琮與玉瑗, 便是飾神面(牛首狀), 鳳鳥及龍的頭部, 淺浮雕刀法, 二者的形象十分雷同, 同樣具戰國風格. Heads which are the most important part of animals are thus unique to identify the animal itself. In ancient Chinese jades, the heads of the dragon and phoenix are usually the common motifs. The motifs of the jade cong and jade ring here are an example. The shapes and carving styles are similar and all carry the genre of Warring States.

商代璧,  Jade Bi, D.12cm本器白玉雕琢, 形制為三層玉璧, 最內層為三羊角所形成之三叉體, 其內涵為三羊開泰. 第二層及最外層為戰國特色之神面, 龍鳳, 如意紋淺浮雕. 古玉跡象主要為鈣化層. Carved with white jade, the object is a jade bi consisting of three layers. At the center is a structure of three heads of goats with the heads overlapped and the horns separate to signify the meaning of a prosperous scene created by three suns( in Chinese: 三羊開泰). The two outer layers are decorated with low-relief motifs of God’s face, dragon, and phoenix. With mastery workmanship, the bi is well carved with antiquity evidence of calcification. The Warring States of similar motifs and carving style is shown here to compare.

商代玉瑗, D.15cm, T.2cm, 920grams. 本器灰白玉雕琢, 玉瑗雙面對稱, 表面呈中央凸起, 紋飾區分為四等分, 飾神面, 龍, 鳳, 如意雲紋淺浮雕,刀工流暢剛勁有力, 古玉跡象為擴散暈沁色, 冰裂紋. Carved with grey-white tone jade, this ring is symmetrical for both sides in terms of contour and motifs which are divided into four sections. Low relief carvings of God’s face, dragon, phoenix, and auspicious clouds are integrated into each section. With mastery workmanship, this ring has antiquity evidence of cleaving veins and diffusive markings.

商代鳳首神面紋玉琮, 鳳首及神面均以如意雲紋構成, 線條婉約優雅, 分佈均勻, 疏密得宜.本玉琮系由頂級的羊脂白玉琢成, 白色的寶石光芒四射.Carved with white fine quality jade, this jade cong has low relief of God’s face, phoenix head, and auspicious cloud. Master workmanship carving is shown.

Proverb: Opportunity seldom knocks twice at any man’s door (English).

For any questions, please write to Prof. Chen( palaceantique@gmail.com).