A GREENISH-WHITE JADE ‘SERPENT’ PENDANT

LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 12TH-11TH CENTURY BC

Details

A GREENISH-WHITE JADE ‘SERPENT’ PENDANT
LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 12TH-11TH CENTURY BC
The flat pendant of somewhat trapezoidal shape is finely incised on both sides with a coiled serpent with a heart-shaped head and double-line lozenge motifs on the body. The pendant is drilled vertically from the top to the bottom with another hole pierced on either end.
1.5 in.(3.9 cm.)long, box

Provenance

Collection of Dr Cheng Te-k’un (1907-2001)
Bluett and Sons Ltd., London
Lantien Shanfang Collection, acquired from the above on 20 December 1990

Literature

Chinese Jades from the Mu-Fei Collection, Bluett and Sons Ltd, London, 1990, no. 18

Lot Essay

The present pendant was in the collection of the renowned archaeologist Dr Cheng Te-k’un (1907-2001). Born in Gulangyu, Xiamen, Fujiang province at the turn of the 20th century. Dr Cheng graduated from Peking University and obtained his doctorate degree in archaeology from Harvard University. He taught at the University of Cambridge for 23 years from 1951, during which Dr. Cheng built up the Mu-Fei Library. In 1984, Dr Cheng founded the Centre for Chinese Archaeology and Art at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and served as its first director before his retirement in 1985.

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