Ritual ImplementsChinese

Jade Big Bird and Little Bird

16th-10th century BCE

Classification

Ritual Implements

Medium

Translucent pale green nephrite

Culture

Chinese

Period

Shang dynasty (c. 1600-c. 1050 BCE) to Western Zhou period (c. 1050-771 BCE)

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Asian Art

Dimensions

H. 5.1 x W. 4.7 x D. 0.2 cm (2 x 1 7/8 x 1/16 in.) Weight 7 g

Related Artworks

Ritual Implements

Jade Eagle-headed Griffin

Unknown Artist, 475 BCE - 221 BCE

Faintly translucent, mottled light brown and gray nephrite

5th-3rd century BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

Jade Axe with Round Edge

Unknown Artist, probably Majiabang culture, c. 5000 - c. 4000 BCE

Variegated, deep celadon-green and light gray stone

5th millennium BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

Flat Jade Axe with Rounded Edge

Unknown Artist, c. 3300 - c. 2000 BCE

Creamy white nephrite with dark green markings, polished to a brilliant gloss

4th-3rd millennium BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

Fragment of a Jade Collared Disk

Unknown Artist, 14th cent. BCE - 8th cent. BCE

Fairly translucent, ivory-colored nephrite with traces of cinnabar and earth adhering to the surface

Chinese

Ritual Implements

Primitive Jade Pendant

Unknown Artist, c. 4000 BCE - c. 2000 BCE

Largely calcified, ivory-colored jade with a few dimly translucent, olive-green spots

4th-3rd millennium BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

PENDANT(IN SHAPE OF WING DRAGON)

Unknown Artist

Stone

Chinese

Ritual Implements

Fragment of a Trapezoidal Jade Knife

Unknown Artist, c. 2500 BCE - c. 1900 BCE

Bluish gray-green stone with black and light brown markings

3rd millennium BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

Jade Scabbard Buckle

Unknown Artist, 3rd cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE

Yellowish gray translucent nephrite with signs of incipient calcification

3rd-1st century BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

SMALL RING

Unknown Artist, 20th century

Stone

20th centuryChinese

Ritual Implements

Jade Disk in Three Segments

Unknown Artist, 16th-8th century BCE

Translucent, light greenish gray nephrite with light brown markings and creamy white calcified streaks

Chinese

Ritual Implements

Jade Statuette of a Man

Unknown Artist, 206 BCE - 9 CE (?)

Gray-green nephrite

3rd century BCE-1st century CEChinese

Ritual Implements

Tall Jade 'Cong'

Unknown Artist, c. 3300 BCE - c. 2000 BCE

Mottled bluish gray-green stone with darker markings

4th-3rd millennium BCEChinese