Pendant in the form of a bird

Historical period(s)
Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty, ca. 1250-1050 BCE
Medium
Jade (nephrite) with traces of cinnabar
Dimensions
H x W x D: 3.5 × 3.6 × 0.3 cm (1 3/8 × 1 7/16 × 1/8 in)
Geography
China, probably Henan province, Anyang
Credit Line
Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1987.704
On View Location
Sackler Gallery 24b: Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings
Classification(s)
Jade, Jewelry and Ornament
Type

Jewelry

Keywords
Anyang period (ca. 1300 - ca. 1050 BCE), bird, China, Western Zhou dynasty (ca. 1050 - 771 BCE)
Provenance

Mrs. Christian R. Holmes (1871-1941), New York and "The Chimneys," Sands Point, Port Washington, Long Island [1]

From 1941 to 1963
Holmes Foundation, New York [2]

1963
Sale, New York, Parke-Bernet Galleries, Important Chinese Art: Early Dynastic Bronzes, Silver and Gold...Collected by the Late Mrs. Christian R. Holmes, New York, Sold by the Order of the Holmes Foundation, November 14-15, 1963, lot 200/4: “Four Jade Ornaments: Type of the preceding [lot], two in the form of waterfowl; a deer and a white jade owl-like bird”

From 1963 to 1987
Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), New York, purchased through Frank Caro from Parke-Bernet Galleries Sale on November 15, 1963 [3]

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

Notes:

[1] See Parke-Bernet Galleries, Important Chinese Art: Early Dynastic Bronzes, Silver and Gold...Collected by the Late Bettie F. Holmes (Mrs. Christian R. Holmes), New York, Sold by the Order of the Holmes Foundation, November 14-15, 1963, lot 200/4. The lot has been identified as S1987.704 based on information provided by Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, October 2009.

[2] Mrs. Holmes had established the Holmes Foundation to continue her charity work after her death.

[3] See Frank Caro’s invoice issued to Arthur M. Sackler on November 22, 1963, copy provided by the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, October 2009, in object file.

[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.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Holmes Foundation
Parke-Bernet Galleries
Mrs. Christian R. Holmes 1871-1941
Dr. Arthur M. Sackler 1913-1987

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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