Interesting object consisting of two almost identical halves. It is called a Hu Fu or Bing Fu in China and functioned as a tally. Tallies were used by high ranking officials to send out orders to the army in the field. From the 8th century BC onwards, tiger tallies became fashionable. Later tiger tallies consisted of two halves each with the character Ho (Check) of which one was carved in relief and the other in intaglio (sunken). When both pieces are pressed together they fit perfectly. One half was kept by a high public official whose orders to a military officer in the field would be accompanied by one half of the tally. The military officer had the other half and when both halves fitted together he would act as ordered. The following words are inscribed on the inside: The right route; Commander of the Guards; Headquarters No 5; Fellow comrade. According to the dealer in Amsterdam who sold this tally to us in 1967, it came originally from the collection of Prof. dr. H.A. van Oort (1916 – 2001), a well-known Chinese art expert. Dating is difficult but judged by the condition of the material, the tally must be very old. Usually jade tallies of this type are given a Song period date (AD 960 – 1269). Length 4.0 cm. Width 2.0 cm. Depth 1.0 cm. Weight 20 grams.