1. (Jeffrey Smith per Keith Wilson, July 17, 2008) Ceremonial object added as secondary classification.
2. (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."
3. (Jeffrey Smith per Janet Douglas, June 17, 2010) Nephrite added as modifier to existing medium of "Jade" based on conservation analysis.
4. (Najiba Choudhury per Keith Wilson, January 28, 2020) Title changed from "Ancestor tablet" to "Ancestor tablet with bird and dragon"; Date changed from "10th 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, "Both surfaces of the large rectangular jade handle are decorated with a stylized bird motif seen in profile. The bird is presented in terms of double incised lines, some of which are beveled. The upper portion of the handle is plain with a slightly larger, projecting shape at the top. (Many very tiny pits in surface; very small flaw in corner of tip.)"
Usage conditions apply
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections..