Disk (bi 璧)

(Described in the Last Will and Testament of Katharine Graham, 2002)
Black archaic jade bi 璧 disk with rice grain spiral studs, fine beveled edges, offset pierced hole (minor surface nicks and calcification).
Diameter: 8 ¼”, ½” thick

Labeled with sticker no. 35.

Maker(s)
Artist: Liangzhu culture 良渚 (ca. 3300-ca. 2250 BCE)
Historical period(s)
Late Neolithic period, reworked and decorated in late Eastern Zhou dynasty, Warring States period, or Qing dynasty, 3300-2250 BCE
Medium
Jade (nephrite)
Dimensions
Diam x D: 21 x 1.7 cm (8 1/4 x 11/16 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Bequest of Katharine Graham
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F2011.1
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceremonial Object, Jade
Type

Ceremonial object: disk (bi)

Keywords
China, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770 - 221 BCE), Late Neolithic period (ca. 5000 - ca. 1700 BCE), Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Warring States period (475 - 221 BCE)
Provenance

To 1970
Eugene Meyer (1875-1959) and Agnes E. Meyer (1887-1970) [1]

From 1970 to 2001
Katharine Graham (1917-2001), Washington DC by descent from her mother, Agnes E. Meyer [2]

From 2001 to 2002
Estate of Katharine Graham [3]

From 2002
Freer Gallery of Art, bequeathed by Katharine Graham [4]

Notes:

[1] See object file, Collections Management Office.

[2] See note 1.

[3] See note 1.

[4] See note 1.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Estate of Katharine Graham
Eugene I. Meyer Jr. 1875-1959
Agnes E. Meyer 1887-1970
Katharine Meyer Graham 1917-2001

Description

(Described in the Last Will and Testament of Katharine Graham, 2002)
Black archaic jade bi 璧 disk with rice grain spiral studs, fine beveled edges, offset pierced hole (minor surface nicks and calcification).
Diameter: 8 ¼", ½" thick

Labeled with sticker no. 35.

Published References
  • J. Keith Wilson, Jingmin Zhang. Jades for Life and Death. .
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Jades for Life and Death
Google Cultural Institute
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