Ancestor tablet

Six tiers of leaves or scales rise up each side of the jade handle. Each tier is separated from the one adjacent to it by a narrow vertical band running up the center of each side. The tip of the handle is an inverted truncated pyramid. The tectiform bar at the top of the handle is ground to a thin edge. Two horizontal raised thread-bands decorate the concave space between the tectiform bar and the tiers of leaves. (Crack/separation on end, reverse; calcification clouding.)

Historical period(s)
Middle Shang dynasty, ca. 1400-ca. 1300 BCE
Medium
Jade (nephrite)
Dimensions
H x W x D: 18.6 x 2 x 1 cm (7 5/16 x 13/16 x 3/8 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1987.838
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceremonial Object, Jade
Type

Tablet

Keywords
China, Middle Shang dynasty (ca. 1400 - 1300 BCE), nephrite, WWII-era provenance
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Six tiers of leaves or scales rise up each side of the jade handle. Each tier is separated from the one adjacent to it by a narrow vertical band running up the center of each side. The tip of the handle is an inverted truncated pyramid. The tectiform bar at the top of the handle is ground to a thin edge. Two horizontal raised thread-bands decorate the concave space between the tectiform bar and the tiers of leaves. (Crack/separation on end, reverse; calcification clouding.)

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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