plaque; pendant BM-2022-3034.111

Period:Western Zhou dynasty Production date:11thC BC-8thC BC
Materials:jade
Technique:bevelled, incised,
Subjects:bird
Dimensions:Height: 3.60 centimetres Length: 4.30 centimetres

Description:
Bird plaque/pendant of translucent yellow jade with areas of calcification and surface pitting. The bevelled cut incisions represent a bird with a round eye, a large hooked beak, notched and flowing crest feathers, proud chest, wing and bifurcated tail feathers standing on clawed feet. On one side the beak, chest and claw is bevelled to an edge. There are two perforations, one through the chest and the other through the beak.
IMG


Comments:The wing is formed by a scroll indicating the breast, which then turns into a series of parallel lines, rising to the tip of the wing behind the crest. The bird has a bifurcated fish-like tail, also embellished with incised lines. There is a claw below the wing. Both sides of the pendant are decorated in the same way but on one side the beak, chest and claw are bevelled to an edge. There is a hole in the beak and another in the breast. Birds with long, downward turning tails, embellished with incised lines, and a crest are fairly common at Anyang sites, although they became much more widespread in the Western Zhou. During the Western Zhou the angle of the bird’s tail was altered so that it lay horizontal and therefore looked very like a fish’s tail. See Rawson 1995, p.227, cat.no.12.29.