A PALE CELADON AND RUSSET JADE ‘BIRD’ PENDANT, LATE SHANG DYNASTY
China, 1300-1050 BC. Flat stone worked in the form of a bird in profile, perched on its claws, with a distinct round beak pierced with a circular aperture for suspension, the head surmounted by a crest, and finely incised with plumage. Semi translucent stone of pale celadon color with russet inclusions and areas of white calcification.


Provenance
: From the collection of Dr. Wou Kiuan. Wou Lien-Pai Museum, coll. no. E.3.21A-H. Dr. Wou Kiuan (1910-1997) was a Chinese diplomat and noted scholar of Chinese art. His father, Wou Lien-Pai (1873-1944), was one the leading political figures of early 20th century China, remembered for his role as speaker and leader of parliament during the turbulent years of the Republican era. Dr. Wou himself embarked on an illustrious career in diplomacy until his retirement in 1952, when he settled in London and devoted the rest of his life to the study of Chinese art. It was without doubt fortuitous that Dr. Wou’s years of collecting coincided with an abundant availability of exceptional Chinese art on the London market. From the mid-1950s to the late 1960s, he was able to form a collection of well over 1,000 works that together represented virtually every category of Chinese art. At the heart of Dr. Wou’s drive to collect was a burning desire to preserve the relics of China’s rich historical past scattered across Europe, and to promote Chinese art and culture. It is unclear when Dr. Wou conceived the idea to create a place to house his collection, but in 1968 he opened the doors to the Wou Lien-Pai Museum, named in honor of his father. Over the years, the museum became a ‘must see’ destination for collectors, academics, and visiting dignitaries, and Dr. Wou would delight in leading his visitors through the galleries, recounting stories of China’s glorious history.

Condition
: Very good condition with expected old wear and weathering, little nibbling, and minuscule chips.

Weight: 3.2 g
Dimensions: Height 2.7 cm


Literature comparison:

Compare a related jade pendant of a bird, late Shang dynasty, 3.7 cm, in the Smithsonian Museum, accession number F1979.25.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 22 September 2020, lot 248
Estimate: USD 8,000 or approx.
EUR 8,700
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A calcified jade 'bird' pendant, Shang dynasty or later
Expert remark: Compare the related flat form, pierced beak, and incision work. Note the slightly larger size (3.7 cm) and different color of the stone. Also note that this lot is possibly of a later date.




商末青白玉帶皮鳥形佩

中國，公元前1300-1050 年。扁平鳥形佩，站立狀，獨特的圓形喙，上面有一個圓形的孔，用於懸掛；頭部上方有一個冠，羽毛清晰。半透明的淺青色玉料，帶有黃褐色內沁和白色鈣化區域。


來源：
吳權博士收藏；吳蓮伯美術館，館藏編號E.3.21A-H。吳權(1910-1997) 博士曾是一位中國外交家以及知名中國藝術收藏家。他的父親吳蓮伯 (1873-1944)先生曾是二十世紀初中國重要政治人物，因在民國動蕩歲月中擔任國會議員及議長而聞名。1952 年，吳博士在外交領域走上了輝煌之路，直到他退休後定居倫敦，並將餘生奉獻給了對中國藝術的研究。毫無疑問，吳權博士多年的收藏，與大量中國藝術珍品現身倫敦藝術市場上時間點相呼應，這無疑是幸運的。從 1950 年代中期到 1960 年代後期，他收集了 1,000 多件藏品，涵蓋了中國藝術的每一個門類。吳博士之所以收藏，其原因主要是爲保護散落歐洲各地的中國文物與推廣中國藝術與文化。尚不清楚吳博士何時想到創建一個美術館來歸置他的收藏的，但在 1968 年，他打開了以他父親的名字命名的 吳蓮伯美術館的大門。多年來，美術館已成為收藏家、學者和來訪政要的必經之地，而吳博士總是很樂意給參觀者介紹美術館，講述中國光輝歷史的故事。

品相：
狀況極好，有磨損、一些風化、微小的磕損和刻痕。

重量：3.2 克
尺寸：高 2.7 厘米


文獻比較：

比較一件相近的商代晚期鳥形佩，3.7 厘米，收藏於史密森尼學會，收藏編號F1979.25。


拍賣結果比較：


形制：相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2020年9月22日，lot 248
估價：USD 8,000（相當於今日
EUR 8,700
）
描述：商或更晚玉鳥形飾
專家評論：比較相近扁平鳥形、圓形喙有穿孔和雕刻。請注意尺寸(3.7 厘米) 稍大和不同的玉石顏色。請注意此鳥形飾可能年代較晚。