Home‎ > ‎Birds - I‎ > ‎

Bird #2

Erect bird with high crest and large beak
  • Translucent jade with reddish suffusion, calcification, skin, and pitting. Some surface crystalization evident.
  • Surface decoration in high thread relief; outline of bird is also highlighted with thread relief.
  • Cross-section is slightly oval; it tapers from .67 cm (at the middle) to .38 cm (at the edge); it has a finished feel in the hand.
  • The pierced opening in the crest shows thick calcification originally covered the carving.
  • Bird is evidently a raptor of some sort: eagle, parrot, hawk?
  • Typical Shang style with outstanding details.
  • Displaying marvellous workmanship, this bird seems ready to spring or seize prey.
  • 9.1 x 3.9 x .67 cm
 In Chinese Jade: From the Neolithic to the Qing, p 218-19, Jessica Rawson argues that the crested humans style of carving (see the page on semi humans) preceeded the appearance of the crested Shang birds (such as this one). In fact she feels "it seems likely that human figures with crests ... were based upon such neolithic precedents..., which were then modified to become birds...."  What a fascinating possibility. The present carving has few discernable human characteristics (except perhaps the Shang eye). Other Shang birds do have various 'human like' parts, in particular the folded legs of the 'fetal position'. Stylistic miscegenation???
 
Of course, promiscuous borrowing is often the norm, not exception, in the history of styles.
 
Personally, I'm inclined to imagine the crested birds preceding the humans who were then invested with bird-like characteristics of power and majesty. In this reading the humans (read shamans) are assuming bird-like powers as part of their magical transformation. Naturally, this is pure speculation unburdened by real knowledge. 
 
 
Â