Knife pendant in the form of a supernatural human

Implement: a pointed implement for loosening knots. Somewhat translucent pale gray green nephrite with pale tan mottling, carved in silhouette and counter sunk linear relief. Perforated for suspension.

Historical period(s)
Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty, ca. 1250-ca. 1050 BCE
Medium
Jade (nephrite) with traces of cinnabar
Dimensions
H x W x D: 10.7 × 3.3 × 0.8 cm (4 3/16 × 1 5/16 × 5/16 in)
Geography
China, probably Henan province, Anyang
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1942.6
On View Location
Sackler Gallery 24b: Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings
Classification(s)
Jade, Jewelry and Ornament
Type

Pendant

Keywords
Anyang period (ca. 1300 - ca. 1050 BCE), China
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Implement: a pointed implement for loosening knots. Somewhat translucent pale gray green nephrite with pale tan mottling, carved in silhouette and counter sunk linear relief. Perforated for suspension.

Published References
  • J. Keith Wilson, Jingmin Zhang. Jades for Life and Death. .
  • Cheng Te-k'un. Archaeology in China. 3 vols., Cambridge, England. pl. 21e.
  • Na Chih-liang. "玉器通史." Yu ch'i t'ung shih [A General Study of Chinese Jade]. Hong Kong, 1965. p. 45, fig. 55.
  • Florance Waterbury. Bird-Deities in China. Supplementum 10 Ascona, Switzerland. pp. 89-90, pl. 17a.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Jades for Life and Death
Google Cultural Institute
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