Pendant

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On display

V&A South Kensington
China, Room 44, The T.T. Tsui Gallery

Artist/Maker	Unknown
Place of origin	China (made)

Carved jade dragons or birds were worn as pendants in ancient China. When the owners died their pendants were buried with them. This piece in the form of a coiled dragon was made in the 12th-11th century BC, by which time jade carvers usually added more details to the surface.

Object details

Categories	Personal Accessories Hardstone
Object type	Pendant
Materials and techniques	Nephrite jade, carved
Brief description	W. Zhou coiled dragon pendant
Physical description	Pendant in the form of a coiled dragon
Dimensions	Diameter: 8.2cm
Style	Western Zhou
Gallery label	(2007) Dragon pendant Western Zhou dynasty 1100-1000 BC The pendant is shaped as a coiled dragon with its tail in its mouth. Carved nephrite jade Museum no. A.73-1936
Credit line	Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee
Subject depicted	龍
Summary	Carved jade dragons or birds were worn as pendants in ancient China. When the owners died their pendants were buried with them. This piece in the form of a coiled dragon was made in the 12th-11th century BC, by which time jade carvers usually added more details to the surface.
Bibliographic references	Pelliot, P. Jades Archaiques de Chine appartenant a M. C T Loo, Paris and Brussels, 1925, pl. XVII(I) Shina Kogyoku Zuroku (Chinese Jades), Tokyo and Kyoto, 1955, pl. LXXX(2). Ming Wilson, Chinese Jades, No. 19 Rawson, Jessica and Ayers, John. Chinese Jade throughout the Ages, London : Oriental Ceramics Society, 1975 no. 89
Collection	East Asia Collection
Accession number	A.73-1936

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Record created	March 14, 2005
Record URL	https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O110183/pendant-unknown/

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