Ritual ImplementsChinese12th-11th century BCE

Jade Bird

12th cent. BCE - 11th cent. BCE

Classification

Ritual Implements

Medium

Translucent greenish nephrite with decomposed, cream-colored specks; traces of cinnabar

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

5.1 x 2.1 x 0.5 cm (2 x 13/16 x 3/16 in.) unspecified: 10 g

Related Artworks

Ritual Implements

Jade Spearhead in a Bronze Socket

Unknown Artist, 12th-11th century BCE

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Ritual Implements

Plain Quadrangular Jade Belt or Shroud Plaque (one from a set of six)

Unknown Artist, 206 BCE - 9 CE

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Unknown Artist, 475 BCE - 221 BCE

Large disk of a translucent, dark bluish green jade with blackish streaks and rust-colored spots

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Unknown Artist, 206 BCE - 9 CE (?)

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Unknown Artist, 1100-771 BCE

Pale greenish, partly discolored nephrite

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

Yellowish gray translucent nephrite with signs of incipient calcification

3rd-1st century BCEChinese

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Miniature Wood Stupa, one of a set known as the "One Million Pagodas" (Hyakumantō)

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Axe-Shaped Jade Tablet

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

Mottled green, gray, and black nephrite with whitish veins

4th-3rd millennium BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

Funnel-Shaped Jade Tube

Unknown Artist, possibly 770 BCE - 476 BCE

Greenish gray, dimly translucent stone of homogeneous color and texture

8th-5th century BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

Jade Disk with Pattern of Plastic Curls

Unknown Artist, 475 BCE - 221 BCE

Buff and opaque nephrite with brown markings

5th-3rd century BCEChinese

Ritual Implements

Jade Disk in Three Segments

Unknown Artist, 15th cent. BCE - 11 cent. BCE

Originally translucent, deep brownish green nephrite has mostly turned opaque ocher, while some areas show white, softened substance resulting from calcification

Chinese

Ritual Implements

Jade Openwork Feline

Unknown Artist, 5th-4th century BCE

Translucent, yellowish nephrite with creamy brownish calcified spots

5th-4th century BCEChinese