As early as 1928
Reportedly discovered at archeological sites in Anyang, Honan Province, China [1]
To 1939
Zhang Naiji (1899‑1948), Shanghai, China then New York, NY [2]
From 1939
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased through C. T. Loo & Company, New York from Zhang Naiji on April 17, 1939 [3]
Notes:
[1] According to information provided by Zhang Naiji to John E. Lodge at the time of acquisition, see J. E. Lodge's note, 1939, in object file. Zhang Naiji stated that he had obtained the jades, selected by the Freer Gallery from a group of about 350 pieces offered for sale (F1939.6 - F1939.26 and F1939.28 - F1939.33), at the places of their excavation. Lodge commented in his 1939 note: "I see no good reason to doubt [Zhang's] statement. I have, therefore, specified Shou Chou, or An‑yang, or Lo‑yang (Chin Ts'un) as the source of a piece in accordance with Mr. Chang's [Zhang's] designations given in my presence and recorded by me." Excavations at Anyang began in 1928.
[2] See note 1. See also "List of objects contemplated for purchase by Freer Gallery of Art," approved on February 1, 1939, Freer Gallery Purchase List, copy in object file. According to an annotation on the list, the purchase was made from C. T. Loo & Company, New York acting as an agent for the owner and the payment was made on April 17, 1939.
Zhang Naiji (also known as N.C. Chang) was a businessman, born to a prestigious family in Zhejiang that made their wealth in the silk and salt industries. He collected ancient Chinese art objects and Chinese coins. Zhang amassed his collection whilst living in Shanghai, before leaving for America in 1938. Zhang did not return to China until 1946. While the earliest documentation of Zhang's ownership of the jade dates to February 1939, we know that he acquired the objects in China before his departure.
[3] See "List of objects contemplated for purchase by Freer Gallery of Art," cited in note 2.
Flat, thin ornament of translucent, gray green nephrite with whiter areas; a bird in profile silhouette with details defined by double grooves on both surfaces; two holes for suspension.
Curatorial Remarks
1. Bought from C. T. Loo and Company, New York, from Chang Nai chi [Zhang Naiji] 張乃驥. For price, see "Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List after 1920."
2. (John Ellerton Lodge, 1939) Jades numbered from F1939.6 to F1939.34 inclusive comprise the group selected by the Gallery from a collection of about 350 pieces offered for sale by Chang Nai chi [Zhang Naiji] 張乃驥, of Shanghai. Mr. Chang [Zhang] 張 says that all these jades with two exceptions (F1939.27 and F1939.34) were got by him at the places where they were dug up, and I see no good reason to doubt his statement. I have, therefore, specified Shou Chou [Shouzhou] 壽州, or An yang [Anyang] 安陽, or Lo yang [Luoyang] 洛陽 (Chin Ts'un [Jincun] 金村) as the source of a piece in accordance with Mr. Chang [Zhang]'s designations given in my presence and recorded by me.
3. (Undated Folder Sheet note) Comparable examples and variations of this type of ornament have been published by, e.g., Paul Pelliot, Jades Archaïques de Chine Appartenant à M. C. T. Loo (Paris and Bruxelles: G. Van Oest, 1925), Pl. XVI: 1 and Alfred Salmony, Carved Jades of Ancient China (Berkeley, CA: Gillick Press, 1938), Pls. XVII and XVIII. The roughly semicircular shape of the piece and the positions of the suspension holes suggest its classification as a pe'i huang [peihuang] 佩璜 (See Folder F1939.30).
4. (Undated Folder Sheet note) Sp. G. is 2.936. Decomposition prevents an accurate reading for nephrite.
5. (William B. Trousdale, 1964) Shang 商 dynasty.
6. (Jeffrey Smith per Keith Wilson, July 1, 2008) Jewelry added as secondary classification.
7. (Stephen Allee per Keith Wilson, October 27, 2008) Added Previous Owner as Zhang Naiqi. As no scientific test recorded, removed designation "nephrite." Added Dimensions per Christine Lee, from Jade Project Database. Also changed Title from "Flat, thin ornament of translucent, gray green nephrite" to "Arc pendant with bird motif," and Object name from "Pendant; bird" to "Jewelry (pendant)."
8. (Stephen Allee, June 2, 2009) Corrected name of Previous Owner from Zhang Naiqi to Zhang Naiji 張乃驥 and added Chinese characters, as well as his life dates and a brief biography.
9. (Susan Kitsoulis per Keith Wilson, July 9, 2010) Deleted "(pendant)" from Object name.
10. (Najiba Choudhury per Keith Wilson, January 31, 2020) Title changed from "Arc pendant with bird motif" to "Finial in the form of a bird"; Period One changed from "Shang dynasty" to "Forgery in the style of the late Shang dynasty, Anyang period"; Date changed from "ca. 12th-11th century BCE" to "20th century"; Geography changed from "China" to "China, said to have been unearthed at Anyang"; Object name changed from "Jewelry" to "Ceremonial object"; and added Chinese Caption by Jingmin Zhang.
Published References
Paul Pelliot. Jades Archaiques de Chine appartenant a M.C.T. Loo. Paris and Brussels. pl. 16, fig. 1.
Alfred Salmony. Carved Jade of Ancient China. Berkeley, 1938. pls. 17-18.
J. Keith Wilson, Jingmin Zhang. Jades for Life and Death. .
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