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please help identify this art object. thank you.

Your stone carving is in the form of an ancient vessel called a 'Guang' (觥), sometimes 'Huang' (觵). In my less than fully schooled opinion, it appears, from some of the apparent white nicks, possibly to be soapstone, a frequently used substitute for jade, which would have been the stone of choice for truly ancient carvings like this.

Below are images of a porcelain 'Guang' in my collection with Ming Wanli mark and believed to date to around the Qing Daoguang Period (1821-500. Also links for pasting in your browser to reach information online regarding other examples of these vessels in bronze and jade.

https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/art/303630

https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/a-large-archaistic-spinach-green-jade-vessel-guang-6200350-details.aspx

Best regards,

Bill H.

Thank you Bill for your observations. When you say ancient, what period would this be from? The piece is 5 1/2" in length x 2 1/2 tall x 2" wide, and weighs 1 lbs.. Sorry I should have indicated the dimensions at the beginning. Regards Steve.

Also, do the engraved markings have any significance, or are they decorative? Thank you. Regards Steve.

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