Period:Shang dynasty Production date:15thC BC-10thC BC
Materials:jade, cinnabar (traces),
Technique:carved, incised,
Subjects:bird
Dimensions:Height: 7 centimetres Width: 2.80 centimetres
Description:
Pendant or terminal fitting in the shape of a bird, of pale green translucent jade with brown inclusions, earth encrustation and slight traces of cinnabar.
IMG
![图片[1]-pendant(?); terminal(?) BM-2022-3034.109-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Shang dynasty/Jades/mid_Jade_109.jpg)
Comments:This magnificent crested bird has a prominent hooked beak, proud chest and flowing tail feather, its clawed feet with a small tabular extension which may have been a fitting. The bird is decorated with fine double-line incisions and both sides are similar. There is a slanting bi-conical perforation. Shang. Height 70mm. See Loo 1950 and Ip Yee 1983. A magnificent crested bird in profile is carved out of a substantial slice of jade. The crest is stepped, like the horns of some taotie. The head has a large hooked beak embellished with fine striations, and behind the head is a prominent ear. The wing, spreading from a rounded breast, divides above the tail, with an upper section turning upwards in a large hook. The tail is relatively small and lies behind a large claw terminating in a small tang, that must have fitted into something. The bird is decorated with fine meander on both sides and could have been hung from a hole in the crest or from the hole formed by the beak. Ornaments of this form are typical of the period of Fu Hao and several have come from her tomb. Two with relatively small crests resemble the present bird quite closely. However, even more interesting are birds with large crests from Fu Hao’s tomb. These crests are exactly like those on pendants in the form of kneeling human like figures, also from Fu Hao;’s tomb. Indeed the birds seem to be a Shang variation of the human figures which were probably “foreign” in the sense that the motif was imported from outside the Shang area. See Rawson 1995, p.218, cat.no.12.14.
Materials:jade, cinnabar (traces),
Technique:carved, incised,
Subjects:bird
Dimensions:Height: 7 centimetres Width: 2.80 centimetres
Description:
Pendant or terminal fitting in the shape of a bird, of pale green translucent jade with brown inclusions, earth encrustation and slight traces of cinnabar.
IMG
Comments:This magnificent crested bird has a prominent hooked beak, proud chest and flowing tail feather, its clawed feet with a small tabular extension which may have been a fitting. The bird is decorated with fine double-line incisions and both sides are similar. There is a slanting bi-conical perforation. Shang. Height 70mm. See Loo 1950 and Ip Yee 1983. A magnificent crested bird in profile is carved out of a substantial slice of jade. The crest is stepped, like the horns of some taotie. The head has a large hooked beak embellished with fine striations, and behind the head is a prominent ear. The wing, spreading from a rounded breast, divides above the tail, with an upper section turning upwards in a large hook. The tail is relatively small and lies behind a large claw terminating in a small tang, that must have fitted into something. The bird is decorated with fine meander on both sides and could have been hung from a hole in the crest or from the hole formed by the beak. Ornaments of this form are typical of the period of Fu Hao and several have come from her tomb. Two with relatively small crests resemble the present bird quite closely. However, even more interesting are birds with large crests from Fu Hao’s tomb. These crests are exactly like those on pendants in the form of kneeling human like figures, also from Fu Hao;’s tomb. Indeed the birds seem to be a Shang variation of the human figures which were probably “foreign” in the sense that the motif was imported from outside the Shang area. See Rawson 1995, p.218, cat.no.12.14.
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