A THREE-TIERED WHITE AND RUSSET JADE CONG, LATE LIANGZHU CULTUREChina, c. 2600-2300 BC. Of square section, each corner worked with three registers of stylized animal masks, the four corners divided by gently recessed vertical bands to the center of each side. The originally opaque white jade now of a white, creamy beige and reddish-black tone with numerous dark veins, scattered speckles and russet patches.Provenance: Daniel Milano, Paris, 2002. Paolo Bertuzzi, acquired from the above. A copy of the original invoice from D. Milano, dated 20 October 2002, describing the present lot as a Jade Cong from the Liangzhu culture, and stating a purchase price of EUR 9,500 or approx.EUR 14,000 (adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), apanies this lot. Paolo Bertuzzi (1943-2022) was a fashion stylist from Bologna, Italy, and the son of Enrichetta Bertuzzi, founder of Hettabretz, a noted Italian fashionpany with customers such as the Rothschild family, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. Paolo Bertuzzi later took over his mother’s business and designed exclusive pieces, some of which were exhibited in the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum in New York, USA. He was also an avid collector of antiques for more than 60 years. His collection includes both archaic and contemporary art, and he edited two important books about Asian art, Goa Made - An Archaeological Discovery, about a large-scale archaeological project carried out with the Italian and Indonesian governments, and Majapahit, Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom.Condition: Condition overallmensurate with age, with extensive weathering, erosion and associated losses, areas of calcification and alteration, smoothened chips, and natural fissures, some of which have developed into cracks over time. Displays magnificently, with the colors of the jade in remarkable natural harmony.Weight: 230 gDimensions: Height 8.2 cmThe present jade displays the distinctive characteristics of cong vessels from the Liangzhu culture, with a square outer section around a circular inner tube, decorated with stylized masks neatly arranged on each of the four corners.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 29 November 2017, lot 2710Price: HKD 8,500,000 or approx.EUR 1,138,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: An exceedingly rare nine-tiered jade cong, late Liangzhu culture, circa 2600-2300Expert remark: While this cong is larger (23.5 cm) than the present lot, the stylized masks are less rudimentarily carved. The similar colors of the stone and especially the closely related marks of weathering and erosion indicate that this example and the present lot may have been excavated not far away from each other.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 27 November 2019, lot 2721Price: HKD 275,000 or approx