Celadon Jade Bi Disc

With its creamy green color, this jade disk has the look of a fine celadon ceramic. Known as “bi,” these perfectly round discs with a circular hole in the center date from Neolithic times. Bi discs have been found in the tombs of ancient Chinese emperors and aristocrats, although their function and significance remain unknown. Shaping this hard stone takes considerable skill. An artisan patiently rubs the surface with sand to give the stone its soft, satiny appearance, a subtle glow completely different from the polished gloss of machine-finished jades. The bi disc is mounted on a custom steel stand.