Catalogue entry no. 417 by Max Loehr:
417 Heraldic Bird Silhouette in Openwork
Milky, pale green and light brown translucent jade. The sharp-cornered edges indicate the use of a cutting or sawing technique distinct from that used in Shang or early Chou jade. The bird’s head is shown in profile, while the rest of the image is depicted as seen from the front. The narrow, slightly outspread wings, the long legs extending beyond the wing tips, and the cusped tail distinguish this bird from earlier types. The heraldic pose may suggest West Asian inspiration. The pearl (or fruit?) held in the bird’s beak is a motif previously unknown in Chou. The surfaces were left undercoated. Late Eastern Chou.
