Hardstone Bi Disc

Known as “bi,” these round discs with a circular hole in the center date all the way back to the Neolithic era. Found in the tombs of ancient Chinese emperors and aristocrats, bi discs have a mysterious and spiritual history. The round form is often associated with heaven - and square forms with the earthly realm - and are thought to be conduits for communication with ancestors. 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. This stone disc is patterned with warm browns, greens, and yellows and looks particularly striking set upon a custom steel mount.