Plaque with hybrid bird-dragon creature

Object Details

• Description

  The hybrid creature is composed of a bird and a dragon head in left profile, joined by a single curvilinear body. Details such as eyes and ears are indicated by striated bands chased from the front onto the sheet of hammered gold. Interlaced dragons enframed by striated bands occur along the surface of the curvilinear body. The irregular upper surface on this dragon is broken into two major pieces and joined in the lower left corner.

  The damaged area is marked by a small irregular hole and a large tear along the lower edge. The left and right edges of the plaque each have two perforations, presumably to attach the piece to another surface. The circumference of the plaque, both front and back, bears traces of red pigment.

• Label

  The single curving body of this hybrid creature supports both a phoenix head and a dragon head (now missing its horn). The plaque's use is unclear. Originally attached to a backing, probably made of bronze, it may have served as an architectural decoration. During the Eastern Zhou dynasty, gold was so highly valued that anyone caught trying to obtain it without state permission could be executed.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Gold: The Asian Touch (September 10, 2005 to February 20, 2006)

  Chinese Art of the Warring States Period: Change and Community, 480-222 B.C. (September 30, 1982 to February 17, 1983)

• Origin

  Xinzheng or Henan province, China

• Credit Line

  Gift of The Honorable and Mrs. Hugh Scott

• Type

  Jewelry and Ornament

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 0s

• Place

  Xinzheng, China, Henan province

• Topic

  Repoussé, Gold, Art, Animals, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770 - 221 BCE), Chinese Art, Birds, Dragon, Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Ornaments, Jewelry