A CELADON JADE 'BIRD' PENDANT, MID-WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY China, circa mid-10^th to mid-9^th century BC. The bird has a flattened, angular head, and a sharply pointed beak. The wing feathers are embellished with incised lines rising out of the scrolls that form the breast. The bifurcated tail seems to be that of a fish. Pierced through the breast is a small hole. The translucent stone is of a yellowish celadon tone with russet and cloudy inclusions as well as small dark veins and specks.

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 6 December 1989, lot 3. William and Sophia Harrison, acquired from the above. Gifted to the Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, in 2000, accession number 2000.13.16 (according to lacquer inscription), deaccessioned in 2022. The Speed Art Museum is the oldest, largest, and foremost museum of art in Kentucky, USA. The Speed houses ancient, classical, and modern art from around the world. Hattie Bishop Speed established the museum in memorial of her husband James Breckenridge Speed, a prominent Louisville businessman, art collector, and philanthropist.
Condition: Very good condition with minor old wear, minuscule nibbling around the pierced hole. Microscopic encrustations and a fine, naturally grown patina overall.

Weight: 5.4 g
Dimensions: Length 6 cm

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's, 28 November 2018, lot 2740
Price: HKD 112,500 or approx. EUR 14,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A celadon jade 'bird' pendant, mid-Western Zhou dynasty, circa mid-10^th-mid-9^th century BC
Expert remark: Compare the closely related beak, eyes, and bifurcated fish tail, as well as the related size (5.7 cm). Note that the incised lines are slightly more dense and rounded than on the present lot.


西周中期青玉鳥形佩
中國，公元前十世紀中期至九世紀中期。作鳥形，長尾巴，首微揚，頭上一大束羽冠，姿態生動。雙面陰刻紋飾。胸口鑽有一孔，用來繫繩佩掛。鳥形佩青黃色，褐色紋理及深色黑點。

來源：紐約蘇富比，1989年12月6日，lot 3。William 與 Sophia Harrison購於上述拍賣；2000年贈於美國肯塔基州路易維爾市 Speed Art Museum，編號 2000.13.16 ，2022年出售。The Speed Art Museum是路易維爾市最古老、最大、最重要的藝術博物館，收藏了來自世界各地的古代、古典和現代藝術作品。Hattie Bishop Speed 建立了這座博物館，以紀念她的丈夫 James Breckenridge Speed，他是路易斯維爾著名的商人、藝術收藏家和慈善家。 品相：狀況非常好，有輕微的磨損，穿孔周圍有微小的刻痕。輕微結殼和自然包漿。 重量：5.4 克
尺寸：長 6 厘米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：佳士得，2018年11月28日，lot 2740
價格：HKD 112,500（相當於今日EUR 14,500）
描述：大約公元前十世紀中期至九世紀中期西周中期青玉鳥形佩
專家評論：比較非常相近的喙、眼睛和分叉的魚尾，以及尺寸（5.7厘米）。請注意，此玉珮的刻線比現拍品略為密集和圓潤。