Ritual ImplementsChinese12th-11th century BCE

Jade Bird in Flight

12th-11th century BCE

Classification

Ritual Implements

Medium

Opaque greenish nephrite, largely calcified

Culture

Chinese

Period

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

Century

12th-11th century BCE

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Asian Art

Dimensions

H. 2.3 x W. 3.5 x D. 0.4 cm (7/8 x 1 3/8 x 3/16 in.) Weight 6 g

Related Artworks

Ritual Implements

Jade Dragon Silhouette

Unknown Artist, 4th century BCE

Highly polished, faintly translucent, cream-colored and gray-green nephrite

4th century BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

Elongated Jade Fish Silhouette

Unknown Artist, c. 1100-771 BCE

Clouded bluish gray-green, faintly translucent nephrite

11th-8th century BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

Jade Cicada in the Round

Unknown Artist, 3rd century BCE

Light olive-green and yellowish brown nephrite

3rd century BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

Jade Bird Figure (one of a pair)

Unknown Artist, early 20th century

Translucent light gray stone with white speckles

20th centuryChinese

Ritual Implements

Dragon-like Jade Pendant

Unknown Artist, early 20th century

Translucent, light gray-green and brown nephrite with an opaque bone-colored area

20th centuryChinese

Ritual Implements

Jade Tiger

Unknown Artist, 14th cent. BCE - 10th cent. BCE

Mottled pale bluish green, faintly translucent nephrite

Chinese

Ritual Implements

Asymmetrical Jade Knife

Unknown Artist, 770 BCE - 221 BCE (?)

Green and black nephrite

Chinese

Ritual Implements

Jade Dagger-Axe with Crenelated Tang

Unknown Artist, 16th cent. BCE - 11th cent. BCE

Light buff, slightly translucent nephrite with bluish grey spots and black markings

16th-11th century BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

Jade Dagger-Axe with Grooved Tang

Unknown Artist, 16th cent. BCE - 11th cent. BCE

Pale bluish green nephrite in an advanced state of calcification

16th-11th century BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

Elongated Jade Fish Sihouette (one of a pair)

Unknown Artist, 12th-10th century BCE

Mildly translucent, light gray nephrite

12th-10th century BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

Heavy Jade Knife with Concave Cutouts

Unknown Artist, Longshan culture (?), c. 2500 BCE - c. 2000 BCE

Mottled gray-green and dark brown stone

3rd millennium BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

Jade Fish Sihouette (one of a pair)

Unknown Artist, 11th cent. BCE - 10th cent. BCE

Mottled dark green and buff opaque nephrite, stained with cinnabar

11th-10th century BCEChinese