18TH CENTURY

Compare the carving of the present jade bird to one illustrated by J. Watt in Chinese Jades From Han to Ch'ing, New York, 1980, p. 96, no. 81, where it is dated to the 13th/14th century. Although of earlier date, both carvings feature the bird in a similar pose with wings outstretched and head turned back towards the tail, which Watt associates with jades of Song and Yuan date. Also of note is the use of a heavily mottled stone, which in the case of the published example is yellow with dark brown markings.