Sheath with Bird and Feline or Dragon
Warring States period to early Western Han dynasty, 3rd/2nd century B.C.
Medium
Jade
Dimensions
10.6 × 5.7 × 0.5 cm (4 3/16 × 9 3/8 × 1/8 in.)
Classification
weapon
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
108586
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Artists of China's late Bronze Age achieved both technical mastery and visual sophistication in elegant objects like this jade sheath, designed to fit a small blade. Its fluid contours and subtle surface modeling are remarkable because they were achieved by slowly grinding down, drilling, and polishing the stone.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...