Finial in the form of a dragon and bird in combat

Object Details

• Description

  Jade pendant depicting a single-horned, open-mouthed dragon and a bird. Both the dragon and the bird are presented in profile, superimposed one atop the other, so that the dragon might be read as an appendage of the bird. The flat surfaces of the pendant are embellished with designs in raised lines. (Flaw pits around edges; spots of calcification; deposits, cinnabar.)

• Provenance

  To 1959

  Abel William Bahr (1877-1959), Shanghai, China, London, England, Montreal, Canada, New York, NY, and Ridgefield, Connecticut

  [1]

  From 1959 to 1963

  Edna H. Bahr (d. 1978), by descent from her father, Abel William Bahr

  From 1963 to 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler, New York, purchased from Edna H. Bahr in 1963 [2]

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler on September 11, 1987 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] According to information provided by the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, October 9, 2009.

  [2] See #352:

  "Bird and Kuei Green mottled," on list provided by the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, October 9, 2009, copy in object file.

  [3] Pursuant to the agreement between Dr. 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.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings (February 25, 2023 to April 28, 2024)

  The Arts of China (November 18, 1990 to September 7, 2014)

  Ancient Chinese Bronzes and Jades (October 1, 1989 - September 10, 1990)

  In Praise of Ancestors: Ritual Objects from China (September 28, 1987 to January 1, 1989)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Abel William Bahr (1877-1959)

  Edna H. Bahr (1907-1986)

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

• Origin

  Anyang, probably Henan province, China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Jewelry and Ornament

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  Sackler, Arthur M., Bahr, Abel William, Bahr, Edna H.

• Place

  China, Henan province, Anyang

• Topic

  Art, Animals, Carving, Chinese Art, Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE), Nephrite, Birds, Jade, Dragon

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Ornaments, Jewelry