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Height: 10.8 cm,
width: 9.2 cm, thickness: 2.1
cm
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Much of the
greenish jade here has turned white. The head and raised
hands of this standing figurine appear similar to those of a
salamander. The head, looking up, is marked by prominent
eyes, a pointed snout, and etched lines behind. A long
curving snake is carved in relief along the arms and front
of the chest. Spiraling forms protrude from the upper thighs
like coiled snakes. The feet, heel-to-heel, appear in a
horizontal line. A hole was drilled from the back from one
shoulder to the other, and traces of drilling are still
evident.
The salamander is an amphibian of which there are many
species. The large newt belongs to this category and is
marked by a body 60 to 70 centimeters long. In Chinese, it
is commonly called a "doll-fish" or "man-fish" and found in
northeast China. This unusual jade figurine combines the
features of a newt or a salamander with a person and
probably has some spiritual importance in primitive
religion. It is said to have been unearthed in Inner
Mongolia. Such features as the quality of the jade, the
staining, and the etched lines are close to jades
from the Hung-shan Culture. The raised hands and the
drilled hole are similar to a jade bear "spirit" in a
British collection. This piece reflects the style of
primitive art in northeast Asia and may be a relic from a
people closely related to the Hung-shan Culture.
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