AN UNUSUAL YELLOWISH-GREEN AND RUSSET JADE BIRD-FORM PENDANT

Details

AN UNUSUAL YELLOWISH-GREEN AND RUSSET JADE BIRD-FORM PENDANT
EARLY WESTERN ZHOU OR EARLIER

The upper section carved in shallow relief as a bird, the head of triangular section in front, incised with double-circle eyes and a short beak, with a long feather crest trailing from the top of the head down the neck, a feathered breast, closed wings and inward pointing feet just above the first of two bowstring bands on the pointed lower section, horizontally and biconically drilled, the softly polished stone with dark russet staining--3 1/8 in. (8cm.) long

Lot Essay

Compare a similar pendant dated early Western Zhou illustrated by Salmony, Carved Jade of Ancient China, 1938, pl. XXV, no. 2, which has the addition of incised cicada decoration below the bowstring bands. Compare also a pendant of this shape carved on the upper section with a more softly rounded bird, dated Shang, illustrated in The Art of Jade Carving in Ancient China, 1989, pl. 16, p.g 56