1. (Undated Folder Sheet note) The flat rectangular handle of tan colored nephrite preserves the general shape and proportions of Shang 商 dynasty examples. There are angular projections at either side of the top of the handle that establish a clear separation with the elongated concave surfaces below. That slender portion of the silhouette provides an ideal place in which to grasp the handle. The lower section of the jade tapers to a narrow, undecorated base, evidently meant for insertion into another material. On some jade handles of this type, there is a small conical perforation in the lowest section to provide an even more secure joining.
In contrast to Shang 商 dynasty jade handles in which the nuances of the silhouette are further accented by horizontal ridges, the Zhou 周 artisan who fashioned the Sackler piece allowed the figural decoration to cover the entire rectangular surface without any interruption. Consequently, the separation of the individual parts of the handle--cap, grip, and shaft--are subordinated to the elegant, curvilinear forms of the bird and tiger that decorate the surfaces. Both the bird and the tiger, which are presented one atop the other, are articulated with double incised lines, some of which are beveled. The abstraction of the two creatures into a series of flat bands already suggests the importance that interlacing designs were to assume during the latter part of the Zhou 周 period.
2. (Jeffrey Smith per Keith Wilson, July 17, 2008) Ceremonial object added as secondary classification.
3. (Susan Kitsoulis per Keith Wilson, April 20, 2010) Object name changed from "Handle" to "Ceremonial object." Title changed from "Handle (bing 柄)" to "Ancestor tablet."
4. (Jeffrey Smith per Janet Douglas, June 17, 2010) Nephrite added as modifier to existing medium of "Jade" based on conservation analysis.
5. (Najiba Choudhury per Keith Wilson, January 28, 2020) Title changed from "Ancestor tablet" to "Ancestor tablet with bird and dragon"; Date changed from "11th century BCE" to "ca. 1050-ca. 950 BCE"; added Chinese Caption by Jingmin Zhang; added Past Label Text from the exhibition, In Praise of Ancestors by Thomas Lawton.
Added the following to the Description field, "Handle, blade-shaped; carved and incised with figure and bird, both sides; opaque tan. (Totally calcified [?]; small spots of white deposits.)"
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