An Aristocratic Jade Bird standing upright gazing straight ahead.The nobility is accentuated by the majestic head with a firm beak and proud plumes feathers hanging down and curling slightly up.The back of head down the spine also has a row of feathers.The body is incised decorated with wings typical of the Zhou Dynasty and there seem to be a Multiple - V design on the neck perhaps denoting a collar.
Amazing, the superb artistry of the ancient Jade craftmen of China to manipulate such an obdurate Nephrite into a sculpture in the round on such miniature scale (6.0cm 2 3/8").
