LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 12TH-11TH CENTURY BC

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.