Period:Shang dynasty Production date:15thC BC-10thC BC
Materials:jade
Technique:carved, polished,
Subjects:crocodile (crocodile)
Dimensions:Length: 9.50 centimetres Width: 4.20 centimetres
Description:
Crocodile pendant of opaque creamy white jade with earth encrustation finished to a soft polish. The flat biconvex crocodile carved in low relief with limbs extended has a pointed head, angular protuberant eyes, ridged neck and square curls representing limb joints, terminating in a ridged curved tail. A small perforation runs through the tip of the head.
IMG
![图片[1]-pendant BM-2022-3034.115-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Shang dynasty/Jades/447_.jpg)
Comments:Shang. Length 94mm. See Umehara 1964, China Institute 1967, Salmony 1963, Ayers and Rawson 1975, and Na Chih-liang 1980. This flat pendant in the shape of a reptile is carved in low relief, as if the creature were seen from above crawling along the ground. It is boldly carved with a large pointed head and angular protuberant eyes, a ridged neck, four legs and a long curved and pointed tail segmented by v-shaped lines. The underside is also carved, but less elaborately. A small hole pierces the snout. The surface has a soft polish. Reptiles are not particularly common among Shang jade animal pendants: toads and turtles are among the most frequent. A neolithic jade reptile has been found at the Liangzhu culture site of Jiangsu Wu xian Zhanglingshan. The present formidable piece is unparalleled among excavated pieces and among jades in collections. A rather more compact creature, which is not carved on the underside, was formerly in the Mu Fei collection. See Rawson 1995, p.223, cat.no.12.20.
Materials:jade
Technique:carved, polished,
Subjects:crocodile (crocodile)
Dimensions:Length: 9.50 centimetres Width: 4.20 centimetres
Description:
Crocodile pendant of opaque creamy white jade with earth encrustation finished to a soft polish. The flat biconvex crocodile carved in low relief with limbs extended has a pointed head, angular protuberant eyes, ridged neck and square curls representing limb joints, terminating in a ridged curved tail. A small perforation runs through the tip of the head.
IMG
Comments:Shang. Length 94mm. See Umehara 1964, China Institute 1967, Salmony 1963, Ayers and Rawson 1975, and Na Chih-liang 1980. This flat pendant in the shape of a reptile is carved in low relief, as if the creature were seen from above crawling along the ground. It is boldly carved with a large pointed head and angular protuberant eyes, a ridged neck, four legs and a long curved and pointed tail segmented by v-shaped lines. The underside is also carved, but less elaborately. A small hole pierces the snout. The surface has a soft polish. Reptiles are not particularly common among Shang jade animal pendants: toads and turtles are among the most frequent. A neolithic jade reptile has been found at the Liangzhu culture site of Jiangsu Wu xian Zhanglingshan. The present formidable piece is unparalleled among excavated pieces and among jades in collections. A rather more compact creature, which is not carved on the underside, was formerly in the Mu Fei collection. See Rawson 1995, p.223, cat.no.12.20.
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