.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The present carving is carved with a conjoined double-circle recess measuring approximately 1.5 cm. wide on the underside, designed to be fitted on top of a staff.
Birds had been the objects of worship since the ancient time. As early as the Neolithic period, jade bird-head form finials or jade ‘bird’ pendants were placed on top of wooden staffs, to possibly summon the spirits of divine birds which acted as the medium through which humans communicated with the divine. The use of bird-form finials on top of a staff was perpetuated throughout later periods. During the Han dynasty, staffs with bird-form finials were gifted by the Han government to elderly over seventy years old, as a sign of blessing from the emperor.
Similar examples are very rare, although one can compare the present finial with a smaller Western Han white jade bird-form finial in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, collection number: gouyu000270N000000000, which shares a similar form but is carved with fewer details (fig.1).
Birds had been the objects of worship since the ancient time. As early as the Neolithic period, jade bird-head form finials or jade ‘bird’ pendants were placed on top of wooden staffs, to possibly summon the spirits of divine birds which acted as the medium through which humans communicated with the divine. The use of bird-form finials on top of a staff was perpetuated throughout later periods. During the Han dynasty, staffs with bird-form finials were gifted by the Han government to elderly over seventy years old, as a sign of blessing from the emperor.
Similar examples are very rare, although one can compare the present finial with a smaller Western Han white jade bird-form finial in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, collection number: gouyu000270N000000000, which shares a similar form but is carved with fewer details (fig.1).