Object: Pendant in the form of a dragon with raised uniform curls S1987.614

Classification: Jewelry and Ornament

Historical period(s): Warring States period, Eastern Zhou dynasty, 475-221 BCE

Object Date: 475-221 BCE

Medium: Jade (nephrite)

Dimension(s): H x W x D: 5.3 x 2.1 x 0.4 cm (2 1/16 x 13/16 x 3/16 in)

Origin: China

Credit Line: Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

Collection: Arthur M. Sackler Collection

Accession Number: S1987.614

: 凸面規則谷紋龍形佩
東周戰國時期（公元前475--221年）
中國, 傳河南金村出土
軟玉
高2.1、寬5.3、厚0.4釐米
亞瑟·M·賽克勒贈送
器物編號：S1987.614

Provenance: 1928-1932
Purportedly discovered in Henan province, Jincun, China [1]

To 1964
Frank Caro Chinese Art, New York, NY, method of acquisition unknown [2]

1964 to 1987
Arthur M. Sackler, New York, NY, purchased in New York, NY from Frank Caro Chinese Art on August 27, 1964 [3]

From 1987
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler on September 11, 1987 [4]

Notes:

[1] Discovery site noted on invoice from Frank Caro Chinese Art to Arthur M. Sackler, August 27, 1964 (see note 2 for full quotation). Several tombs near Chin ts’un (Jincun) in western Henan were discovered in the summer
of 1928 after heavy rain, when sinkholes began to emerge. Immediately upon discovery, the tombs were heavily scavenged by locals. Only two tombs were systematically excavated (see William Charles White, Tombs
of Old Lo Yang: A Record of the Construction and Contents of a Group of Royal Tombs at Chin ts’un, Probably Dating to 550 B.C. [Shanghai: Kelly and Walsh Limited, 1934]; and William Charles White, “China’s Cultural Heritage” in Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada 37 [1943]: 151).

[2] Frank Caro stock number FC 2324: “Archaic jade pendent ‘dragon’; curled tail, spiral motifs on body from Chin ts’un [Jincun]. Eastern Chou [Zhou]. Lt: 2 1/8 ins.,” see invoice from Frank Caro Chinese Art to Arthur M. Sackler, August 27, 1964, copy in object file.

[3] See invoice cited in note 2.

[4] Pursuant to the agreement between Dr. Arthur M. Sackler and the Smithsonian Institution, dated July 28, 1982, legal title of the donated objects was transferred to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on September 11, 1987.

Previous owner(s): Frank Caro Chinese Art (1962-1980)
Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

Curatorial Remarks

1. (Jeffrey Smith per Keith Wilson, July 1, 2008) "Jewelry" added as secondary classification.
2. (Susan Kitsoulis per Keith Wilson, June 23, 2010) Object Name changed from "Pendant: fish dragon" to "Jewelry." Title changed from "Pendant (long pei 龍佩): fish dragon" to "Pendant (long pei 龍佩) in the form of a dragon."
3. (Najiba Choudhury per Keith Wilson, December 30, 2021) Added "Warring States period" as Period Two; Object Name changed from "Jewelry" to "Pendant"; Title changed from "Pendant (long pei) in the form of a fish-dragon" to "Pendant in the form of a dragon with raised uniform curls"; Date changed from "5th-4th century BCE" to "475-221 BCE"; and added Chinese translation.
4. (Jeffrey Smith per Matthew Clarke, July 25, 2022) Medium changed from Jade to Jade (nephrite).

Published References: Published References are currently unavailable.

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Pendant in the form of a dragon with raised uniform curls

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