Period:Han dynasty Production date:2ndC BC-2ndC AD
Materials:jade
Technique:incised, carved,
Subjects:chimaera
Dimensions:Height: 2.80 centimetres Length: 8 centimetres
Description:
Jade carving in the shape of a crouching chimera, the beast with head turned to one side, with a forked horn carved in shallow relief on the forehead and with short curved wings sprouting from its shoulders, the split tail curling to either side, with incised details on the back, wings and head; the greyish-white stone with reddish-brown and darker brown areas, with some traces of encrustation and red pigment from burial.
IMG
![图片[1]-figure BM-2022-3034.256-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Han dynasty/Jades/682_.jpg)
Comments:See Bluett 1981. The carver of this piece has taken advantage of a narrow oval pebble to show a creature prowling, menacing the viewer, with its horned head low near the ground. Its face is turned sideways, with jaw open and tiny ears flattened back on the head. The creature has bulging eyes below arched brows, a small nose and a square open jaw displaying teeth and fangs. A long bifurcated tail, coiled around its back, is altered and opaque. On the surface of the jade are wing-like extensions in relief, embellished with fine striated lines, especially at the tips, that suggest a feathery appearance. Edging the four legs are rather heavier lines, which, together with strong bands of relief and some deeply incised, curved lines, enhance the sculptural quality of the piece throughout. The very fine lines, in particular, are typical of the early animal-shaped jades of the Han period. The head and rear are dark reddish brown. On the matt underside, pointed ovals embellish the paws and curved incised lines indicate the bell. The general character of the jade comes close to, but is not identical with that of a bixie found with four other creatures at Xianyang near present-day Xi’an and dated to the Han period. These were discovered near Weiling, the tomb of the Han emperor Yuandi (r. 48BC-33BC). The creatures from this site may well have been intended to depict the world, both earthy and heavenly. Like these other pieces the present jade is a product of Han interest in the strange and miraculous creatures that were deemed to be portents and omens. While the creature has a close affinity with the Han jades mentioned above, it is not quite as aggressive. It is a much smoother carving and has relatively large, smooth brown areas in place of the smaller, irregular ones of the Xianyang piece. See Rawson 1995 p.363, cat.no.26.7.
Materials:jade
Technique:incised, carved,
Subjects:chimaera
Dimensions:Height: 2.80 centimetres Length: 8 centimetres
Description:
Jade carving in the shape of a crouching chimera, the beast with head turned to one side, with a forked horn carved in shallow relief on the forehead and with short curved wings sprouting from its shoulders, the split tail curling to either side, with incised details on the back, wings and head; the greyish-white stone with reddish-brown and darker brown areas, with some traces of encrustation and red pigment from burial.
IMG
Comments:See Bluett 1981. The carver of this piece has taken advantage of a narrow oval pebble to show a creature prowling, menacing the viewer, with its horned head low near the ground. Its face is turned sideways, with jaw open and tiny ears flattened back on the head. The creature has bulging eyes below arched brows, a small nose and a square open jaw displaying teeth and fangs. A long bifurcated tail, coiled around its back, is altered and opaque. On the surface of the jade are wing-like extensions in relief, embellished with fine striated lines, especially at the tips, that suggest a feathery appearance. Edging the four legs are rather heavier lines, which, together with strong bands of relief and some deeply incised, curved lines, enhance the sculptural quality of the piece throughout. The very fine lines, in particular, are typical of the early animal-shaped jades of the Han period. The head and rear are dark reddish brown. On the matt underside, pointed ovals embellish the paws and curved incised lines indicate the bell. The general character of the jade comes close to, but is not identical with that of a bixie found with four other creatures at Xianyang near present-day Xi’an and dated to the Han period. These were discovered near Weiling, the tomb of the Han emperor Yuandi (r. 48BC-33BC). The creatures from this site may well have been intended to depict the world, both earthy and heavenly. Like these other pieces the present jade is a product of Han interest in the strange and miraculous creatures that were deemed to be portents and omens. While the creature has a close affinity with the Han jades mentioned above, it is not quite as aggressive. It is a much smoother carving and has relatively large, smooth brown areas in place of the smaller, irregular ones of the Xianyang piece. See Rawson 1995 p.363, cat.no.26.7.
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![[Qing Dynasty] British female painter—Elizabeth Keith, using woodblock prints to record China from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic of China—1915-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-191x300.png)
