Pendant in the form of a dragon with raised uniform curls

1928-1932
Purportedly discovered in Henan province, Jincun, China [1]

To 1964
Frank Caro Chinese Art, New York, NY, method of acquisition unknown [2]

1964 to 1987
Arthur M. Sackler, New York, NY, purchased in New York, NY from Frank Caro Chinese Art on August 27, 1964 [3]

From 1987
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Arthur M. Sackler on September 11, 1987 [4]

Notes:

[1] Discovery site noted on invoice from Frank Caro Chinese Art to Arthur M. Sackler, August 27, 1964 (see note 2 for full quotation). Several tombs near Chin ts’un (Jincun) in western Henan were discovered in the summer
of 1928 after heavy rain, when sinkholes began to emerge. Immediately upon discovery, the tombs were heavily scavenged by locals. Only two tombs were systematically excavated (see William Charles White, Tombs
of Old Lo Yang: A Record of the Construction and Contents of a Group of Royal Tombs at Chin ts’un, Probably Dating to 550 B.C. [Shanghai: Kelly and Walsh Limited, 1934]; and William Charles White, “China’s Cultural Heritage” in Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada 37 [1943]: 151).

[2] Frank Caro stock number FC 2324: “Archaic jade pendent ‘dragon’; curled tail, spiral motifs on body from Chin ts’un [Jincun]. Eastern Chou [Zhou]. Lt: 2 1/8 ins.,” see invoice from Frank Caro Chinese Art to Arthur M. Sackler, August 27, 1964, copy in object file.

[3] See invoice cited in note 2.

[4] Pursuant to the agreement between Arthur M. Sackler and the Smithsonian Institution, dated July 28, 1982, legal title of the donated objects was transferred to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on September 11, 1987.