Pendant in the form of a water bird

Historical period(s)
Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty, ca. 1250-1050 BCE
Medium
Jade (nephrite)
Dimensions
H x W x D: 4.3 × 9.8 × 0.5 cm (1 11/16 × 3 7/8 × 3/16 in)
Geography
China, probably Henan province, Anyang
Credit Line
Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1987.870
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, cormorant, 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 at least 1959
Tonying & Company, New York, from at least 1959 [2]

From 1959 to 1987
Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), New York, purchased from Tonying and Company on November 25, 1959 [3]

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

Notes:

[1] According to information provided by Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, October 2009.

[2] See Tonying & Company’s invoice, issued to Arthur M. Sackler, dated November 25, 1959, in which the jade is listed under no. Jo 41: “Archaic Jade Cormorant / Shang,” copy in object file, provided by Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, October 2009.

[3] See Tonying & Company’s 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.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Mrs. Christian R. Holmes 1871-1941
Tonying and Company established 1902
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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