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Identification and Creation

Object Number
1943.51.18.A
Title
Jade Chape
Classification
Ritual Implements
Work Type
chape
Date
3rd cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE
Places
Creation Place: East Asia, China
Period
Warring States period (475-221 BCE) to Western Han period (206 BCE-9 CE)
Culture
Chinese
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/202111

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Light green and brown, partly discolored nephrite
Dimensions
3.3 x 5.7 x 1.3 cm (1 5/16 x 2 1/4 x 1/2 in.)
unspecified: 41 g

Published Text

Catalogue
Ancient Chinese Jades from the Grenville L. Winthrop Collection in the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University
Authors
Max Loehr and Louisa G. Fitzgerald Huber
Publisher
Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA, 1975)

Catalogue entry no. 455 by Max Loehr:

455 Chape
Light green and brown, partly discolored jade. The chape is trapezoidal in outline and lenticular in cross-section. Its décor consists of widely spaced angular spirals, which are slightly raised and outlined by engraved lines. A single hole is drilled in the center of the smaller lenticular surface. Late Eastern Chou or Western Han.

The object was mounted as a pommel on the bronze sword with jade guard described under No. 460. An investigation carried out by Arthur Beale in the Fogg Museum Conservation Laboratory proved the assemblage to be modern. Still, while the use of objects of this shape as hilt ornaments seems uncommon, a pertinent example was recently excavated from a late Ch’un-ch’iu tomb in Kiangsu.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Grenville L. Winthrop
Accession Year
1943
Object Number
1943.51.18.A
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Publication History

  • Max Loehr and Louisa G. Fitzgerald Huber, Ancient Chinese Jades from the Grenville L. Winthrop Collection in the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Fogg Art Museum (Cambridge, MA, 1975), cat. no. 455, p. 310

Verification Level

This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu